
Book T^6Z 



Goiiyriglrt]^?_ 



coEmiGirr deposis 



LIFE AND BATTLES 



OF 



NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. 



X 



ft^ 







IN WORDS OF one/syllable, 

MRS. HELEN W. PIERSON, 

AUTHOR OF ONE SYLLABLE HISTORY OF "UNITED STATES," '"ENGLAND,'' "'FRANCE," 
"GERMANY," AND '"LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS." 

WITH 

EIGHTY-TWO ETCHINGS, BY EDWIN FORBES. 



NEW YORK: 

MCLOUGHLIN BROTHERS. PUBLISHERS. 



\ 



■Ay 



PREFATORY. 



It will be readily understood, that, even in a One 
Syllable History, names must be given that do not come 
tender that i^ule. The past tense and phirals have also 
been zcsed, but with these exceptions, this Life of Napo- 
leon will be found a strictly One Syllable Book. 

The story, of the brave and fearless men who helped 
Napoleon in his victories, has only been touched on, as 
there was no space for it. But the children, who read 
this Life in sjuall words, can find the famous record of 
these heroes zvhen able to inaster the more difficult pages 
of larger works. 

H. W. P. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



Chapter I. WHEN HE WAS A BOY . . . . . . . 5 

Chapter H. HOW HE WENT TO WAR 17 

Chapter HI. HOW HE PUT DOWN THE MOB . . •. . .27 

Chapter IV. HOW HE TOOK THE BRIDGE AT LODI ... 36 

Chapter V. THE SIEGE OF MANTUA .43 

Chapter VI. "ON LINDEN, WHEN THE SUN WAS LOW," . . 51 

Chapter VII. ONCE MORE THE CRY "TO ARMS." .... 67 

Chapter VIII. ON THE ISLE OF LOBAU 78 

Chapter IX. HE PARTS WITH JOSEPHINE . . . . . .88 

Chapter X. ON TO MOSCOW 98 

Chapter XL HIS STAR GROWS DIM .108 

Chapter XII. "FATE MARKS THE FALL OF FRANCE." . .117 

Chapter XIII. PARIS GIVES UP THE FIGHT 124 

Chapter XIV. WATERLOO 133 

Chapter XV. ST. HELENA .......... 145 



FULL PAGE LLLUSTRATLONS. 



I. NAPOLEON CROSSING THE ALPS. 

II. THE BRIDGE OF LODI. 

III. ATTACKED BY ARAB CAVALRY. 

IV. THE ARAIY CROSSING THE ALPS. 

V. CROWNED EMPEROR OF FRANCE. 

VI. THE SUN OF AUSTERLITZ. 

VII. THE CHARGE OF MURAT'S CAVALRY. 

VIII. THE RAFT OF TILSIT. 

IX. CROSSING THE BRIDGE AT LAUBAN. 

X. BURNING OF MOSCOW. 

XI. BLOWING UP THE BRIDGE AT LIEPSIC. 

XII. THE RETURN TO PARIS. NAPOLEON MEETING THE TROOPS. 

XIII. THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 

XIV. THE PRISON OF THE EMPEROR AT ST. HELENA. 

XV. BRINGING THE REMAINS OF NAPOLEON TO PARIS. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

CHAPTER I. 

WHEN HE WAS A BOY. 

If you should set sail in a ship, on the sea that 
bathes the south shore of France, you could reach the 
Isle of Cor-si-ca, where Na-po-le-on first saw the light. 
If you should land on that shore, you could still find 
the house where he lived. You miorht walk on the lawn 
where he used to play, and you could see the place 
where the shrubs now run to wild waste, on the plot of 
ground where the boys and girls who were to be kings 
and queens, dug with their spades, and raked the earth 
on the seeds they sowed, and watched their plants grow. 
All who ioined in the gay sports there are gone now. 
Each voice that rang out from rock to rock in that wild 
place, is now hushed in death, but the tale of Na-po-le- 
on's life from that birth-place, to his last days on the lone 
Isle of St. He-le-na, is what we will try to tell you in 
short words in this book. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 




BIRTH-PLACE OF NA-PO-LE-ON. 



Cor-si-ca was owned by 
the French when Na-po- 
le-on was born. When he 
grew so old that he could 
learn just how they won 
it he had no love for them, 
and did not like to be 
called French. Ma-dame 
Bo-na-partewas left by the 
death of her spouse, to bring up her eight boys and 
girls with small means. But she had a strong mind 
and a firm will, and they learned that her will was law. 
They lived in a house near the sea-shore where they had 
all the sports to be found at such a place. They could 
wade in the pools with bare feet, pick up bright shells, 
find the strange hued sea-weed, ride on the back of a 
kind old dog that they owned, or play at feasts in a cave 
in the rock which still bears Na-po-le-on's name. It is 
said that he would steal off from their plays, to this cave 
with his book, and lie there for hours. He loved to gaze 
at the sea spread out in front of him, or the blue sky, 
and to dream his own dreams. 

He was not so fond of play as the rest. He did not 
care for fun, he was not frank or kind ; his will was so 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 




READ-ING IN THE CAVE. 



strono^that he wished to rule 
in all the games, and the 
rest did not like it. They 
were not fond ol him, though 
they felt that he knew more 
'. than they did. Joseph, the 
first born, was a mild boy 
who had not much force of 
mind, and Na-po-le-on ruled 
him. He bore pain when a child, in a strange, firm 
way, for he shed no tears. 

He liked to hear tales of war, and his toys were of 
the kind that stirred his heart. He would leave bat, or 
ball, or kite, to set his toy troops in rank, and sweep 
them away with his toy gun. He would sit for hours, 
while he played that the mock foe fled from him, and 
their mock dead lay on the ground. 

Ma-dame Bo-na-parte was quite poor. A kind old 
man, near kin to her, let them stay in the house where 
they lived, for they did not own it. They had food and 
clothes, but the boys knew what it was to want. There 
was no cash to spare in that house. When they asked 
their old friend for it he would say, "I have land, vines, 
beasts arid fowl, but I have no orold." 



LIFE OF XA POLE ON. 




PLAY-ING SOL-DIER. 



Na-po-le-on one day made 
a great find, no less than a 
bag full of gold coins hid on 
a shelf 

So the next time their old 

friend said this he gave the 

bag a sly tip, and out rolled 

the bright coin to all parts of 

the room. Oh ! what a shout 

was set up, what loud laugh 

rang out on all sides. 

" It is not gold, of course, since you say you have 

none" said Na-po-le-on, "so I am sure you will give us 

these bright, round things which are of no use. They 

will do to play with." 

The old man was so choked that he could not speak. 
But Ma-dame Bo-na-parte came in just then and frowned 
on the sport. So the young folks had to pick up the 
gold and put it back in the bag. 

When Na-po-le-on was ten years old, he left his home 
to go to school in Par-is. It was hard fur him to part 
from all he loved, and when Ma-dame Bo-na-parte held 
him in her arms, and gave him the last kiss he burst in 
tears. He was an odd child, and had not wept much 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 




FIND-ING THE GOLD. 



in his life, but now his heart 
was sore. He did not dream, 
as he gazed on the thronged 
streets, of Par-is, that one day 
they would ring with his name, 
and that the proud kings and 
queens of the world would bow 
to him. 

He was in France at last, the 
land of the race he had learned 
to hate. He did not speak French, and he felt as 
though he had no friends. Oh ! how he longed for the 
dear isle by the sea, and the loved ones he had left. 

He was poor too and proud, and the sons of the great 
Lords of France looked down on him. They wore rich 
clothes, and they had gold to spend. Na-po-le-on wore 
a plain suit and had no coin in his purse. They sneered 
at his dress, and at his want of gold, but his pride was 
as great as theirs. " I hate those French," he said with 
scorn one day, " and when I can, I will do them harm." 
You see he was by no means a meek boy, and his 
wrong roused him to long to pay back all he had borne. 
He worked hard at his books, while the rest drank and 
played games. He did not waste his time, but spent his 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



days and part of his nights with his books, so that he 
took high rank from the first. He was most fond of the 
books that taught men how to rule, or told of the past, 
and of each race that has lived, and worked, and fought, 
and passed out of sight. There was one book in verse, 
that told of old wars that he liked best of all. The 
man who wrote it was named Ho-mer. Na-po-le-on 
wrote home " With my sword by my side, and Ho-mer 

with me, I hope to carve 
my way through the world." 
The youths at the school 
found that he would not join 
in their games, and they 
left him to his books. He 
learned all he could of the 
lives of great men, and 
scenes in the tales of Greece 
and Rome. The bold deeds 
of brave men thrilled his 
heart. He thought a day lost in which he had not 
learned some new thing. 

He was not loved by the rest of the boys in the 
school, for he was too stern and fond of his own way. 
The wish to rule was as strong in him then as when he 




THE STU-DENT. 



LIFE OF hAPOLEON, 




grew to be a man. He had a fine head, a clear, dark 
skin, and keen eyes, whose glance seemed to pierce one 
through. Each boy at this school, at Bri-enne, had a 

small plot of ground for his 
own use. Na-po-le-on set 
out trees in his small field. 
First, he threw up the 
ground, and made a sort of 
camp. In the midst of this, 
he made a sort of grot, 
where he could be screened 
from the gaze of all, and 
read, and think in peace. 
All his thoughts at that time were of war. Young 
men were taught in those days, that the path of fame 
led through seas of blood. They did not care for the 
law of God, or the great law of " peace on earth, good 
will to men," that Chris '' In'd down. They did not 
think that one day the .^^d at the bar of God 

and tell of their dee ^-,, y looked on death as a 

long sleep from which no , should wake. This life 
was all, and death wis the end. 

It was in such a school of thought that Na-po-le-on 
was reared. France had no God. It is not strange 



MA-KING THE GAR-DEN. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



then that he did not care much for his own hfe. or for the 
hves of his men when he was at the head of his troops. 
He had not been taught the true worth of hfe. It was 
a small thing then to him that men should eat, drink, 
and sleep a few years more or less, when he thought he 
had a great work to do for the race. 

When the cold months came, so much snow fell, that 
the walks were blocked up, and the boys did not know 
what to do in doors. 

" Let us make a snow 

fort," said Na-po-le-on ; 

" that will pass the time." 

He had learned the art 

well, and he was put at 

the head of the band. 

The fort rose, and was 

built in the strict rules of 

art. The high white walls 

v'ere so grand that the 

lolks of Bri-enne came in 

crowds to look at them. 

Na-po-le-on made two 

BuiLD-ixG THE FORT. bauds of thc boys, one to 

hold the fort, and one to try and take it from them. For 




LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



weeks this war went on, for the cold held the fort fast 
and strono". In the heat of the fight, when the balls of 
snow flew thick and fast, boys on both sides were struck. 




STORM-ING THE FORT. 



One boy, who did not mind Na-po-le-on's call, was felled 
by him to the earth, and bore a scar through all his life. 
When years had passed, and Na-po-le-on sat on the 
throne of France, this boy sought to see him. He was a 
poor man, and life had been hard for him, so he hoped 
for help from the old school friend, who had climbed to 
such a high place. At first Na-po-le-on did not know 
the name. 



14 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



" Sir," said one, " he says he has a deep scar on his 
head that was made by your hand." 

"Ah," said Na-po-le-on with a smile, "I know quite 
well what that scar means. It was made by an ice ball 
that I hurled at his head. Let him come in." The 
poor man came in, and Na-po-le-on granted all he asked. 

Na-po-le-on stayed at the school in Bri-enne for five 
years. Once, when near the end of his life, he found 
that he was on that same plain of Bri-enne, where he had 
built his fort of snow. He sought out an old dame from 
whom the boys had been used to buy milk and fruits. 
" Did you know a boy named Bo-na-parte who used to 

go to this school," he asked : 
" Oh, yes, quite well," she said. 
" Did he pay you at all times 
for what he bought ?" "Yes," 
said the old dame, " he made 
the rest of the boys pay me too. 
He would not let them cheat 
me." " Well, here is a purse 
of gold," said Na-po-le-on, " so 
that if there should be a debt 
left, this will make all right."" 
He had a kind thought for 




NA-PO-LE-ON AND THE OLD WO-MAN 
OF BRI-ENNE. 



73'-- 



^3 7^ 




- --^i 1/// // 



I.-NA-PO-LE-ON CROSS-ING THE ALPS. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON 



all his old friends at the school of Bri-enne. The man 
who taught the boys to write could not make him learn 
to write a good hand. Na-po-le-on's thoughts came so 
fast that his pen could not keep up with them. One 
day, long years from that time, a poor old man in a worn 
coat was brought to him. " Who are you," asked 
Na-po-le-on. " I taught you to write at Bri-enne," said 
the old man. 

"Taught me to write," laughed Na-po-le-on, "nice 
work you made of it, too," but he gave the old man 
what would keep him from want for the rest of his days. 

The three boys who had done the best and stood in 
the first rank at Bri-enne were sent to a school in Par-is. 
It was a grand school where the sons of lords were sent. 
Each boy had a groom to tend to his horse, to brush his 
boots, and wait on him. Na-po-le-on did not think that 
this was the way to train men for war. He wrote to 
those at the head of the school and said, that the boys 
should groom their own steeds and clean their arms, and 
learn to know what it was to toil, if they were to fight 
for their land in the days that were to come. He was 
still more fond of books than of sport, and once at some 
feast he was joked at his want of life, as he did not join 
with the rest, in dance or song. " It is not by play that 



i6 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON 



a man is formed," he said. The gay youths thought him 

stern, and left him to his books, and he soon stood first 

in rank in the school. 

When quite young, he was placed where he longed to 
be, in the troops of his land. He was a 
mere boy, and he had some pride in his 
dress, part of which was a pair of great 
boots. He was so small that a young girl 
burst in a laugh as she saw him, and said 
that he looked for all the world like " Puss 
in Boots." The joke was too just not to 
be felt, but Na-po-le-on did not keep a spite 
for the young girl who had made the 
jest. In a few days he gave her the book, 
" Puss in Boots," done up in great style. 
His pay was quite small, and he was poor, but he had 

no wish to go to gay haunts or to waste what he had. 

He was thought proud, by most, but there were a few 

who loved him, and felt that there were great things in 

store for him. 




PUSS IN BOOTS. 



L I /•• E U F XA P U L E O X 



CHAPTER II. 



HOW HE WENT TO WAR. 



The boy Na-po-le-on had grown now to man's age, 
when he went to spend a month on the Isle where he 
had played as a child. He chose a room where he 
would not hear the sounds of the house, and there with 
his books spread out, he spent his days and nights in 
toil. He seemed to know that "the heights by great 
men reached and kept," were gained but by toil while 
the rest slept. He wrote at that time a book of the 
lives of ereat men who had lived in Cor-si-ca. War 
broke out in France, and each day brought some fresh tale 
of woe. It was a war on the great. The poor folk, who 
had been ground down so long by the rich, had grown 
wild and were like miad men. They rose in crowds a 
vast mob, and with yells and hoarse cries made their 
way to the grand home of the King. They were most 
of them half drunk, and did not know what they did. 
They broke down the doors and swarmed through the 
rooms till they found the King. They put on his head 
a red cap which they used as a badge, and then they 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 




THE KING AND THE RED CAP. 



showed him to the crowd. Na-po-le-on, who had not 
been fond of kings, saw this sight and it made his blood 
boil. "The vile mob," he cried, "they should have been 
swept down with grape shot, that would soon have 
put them to flight." Na-po-le-on had not held with the 
rights of kings. He thought that men should vote for 
those they wished to rule them, but the sights he saw 
made him change his mind. He found out what mobs 
were like, when he saw this one drive the king and queen 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



forth with shouts, and vile jests, and shoot down the 
cruards that wished to save them. Then they marched 
through the streets, with the heads of those they had 
killed on the points of their pikes. France was full of 




THE MOB IN THE STREETS OF PAR-IS. 



scenes of woe. The rich and the great fell, and the 
streets were drenched in blood. This time was called 
the "Reign of Terror," and has been known by that 
name to this day. Those who did not think as the mob 
did, lost their heads. The king and aueen had their 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



heads cut off, and the mob ruled France. They said 
they fought for their rights for a free land like A-mer- 
i-ca, where each man had fair play, and could vote. 

Na-po-le-on showed that he was a brave man from the 
first, and so he rose in rank. He shared all the toils of 
his men. He slept but a few hours at night, and then 
wrapped in his cloak would pace the camp to see that 
all was right. He would stand m the midst of a storm 
of shot and shell, and throw up works in the face of the 
foe. Once when the foe fired on his works, he called for 
some one who could write. A young man stepped out 
from the ranks, and wrote down what Na-po-le-on wished, 
when a ball from the foe struck the ground but a few 

feet from them, and 
threw the earth on 
them both, and on the 
note. "Thank you," 
said the young man, 
with a laugh, " we shall 
need no more sand on 
this page." Na-po-le- 
on liked the pluck of 
this young man, and 

THE AID AND THE CAN-NON BALL. nXeQ niS KCCn CyC OU 




LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



him. "Young man," he said, "what can I do for you?" 
"All things," said the youth, "you can help me rise." 
Na-po-le-on did in time make this brave youth one of 
his chiefs in war. His name was Ju-not. 

Na-po-le-on's first fight was at Tou-lon in 1793. It 
was in the midst of the night, and there was a cold storm 
of wind and rain. The Eng-lish held the place and 
shot and shell poured in on them. In the midst of the 
storm, the French marched up to the mouth of the 
Eng-lish guns, and were mown down like grass in the 
way of the scythe. But still they did not give up, and 
Na-po-le-on rode here and there to cheer them. He 
risked his own life, and his plans were found to be the 
true ones in the end, for he took Tou-lon. "It was," 
says Scott, " on this night of fear, and tears, and blood, 
that Na-po-le-on's star first rose in the sky." 

Who can paint that scene? The hot shells set fire to 
the town, and as they fell, babes in their beds were torn 
limb from limb. There were cries and shrieks from those 
who sought to fly, and from those who drew their last 
breath in pain. And all the time the wind howled and 
a cold rain drenched the streets. When the sun rose a 
sad scene met the eye. The streets of Tou-lon were red 
with blood, and the dead lay in piles, the fires still blazed, 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON 




THE SIEGE OF TOU-LON. 



and the shells still burst in their midst. 

Na-po-le-on did not rest, but sought at once to send 
his balls in to the Eng-lish ships to drive them off. 
When Lord Howe saw the red, white and blue flag 
float from the heights of Tou-lon, he knew his cause was 
lost, and he made a sign for the fleet to move. The Eng- 
lish had come there to help that part of the French folk 
who wished to have a king. Na-po-le-on led that part 
of the French who did not want a king. The men of 
rank who had sought to hide in the town of Tou-lon, 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



23 



feared him and his troops when they saw that the Eng-Hsh 
would leave them to their fate. It was a sad scene. 
The Eng-lish took all the French boats they could get, 
and set a fire ship in the midst of them. At ten the 
torch was touched to it. The night was dark and still. 
The flames burst forth, and all the scene was bright as 







BURN-ING THE FLEET. 



the noon. There were the boats where the balls fell 
fast, the crowd on the quays that shrieked and cried in 
fright, and the troops that howled round the walls of the 
town like wolves who sought their prey. Men were 
torn from their loved ones, and wife or child ran to and 



LIFE OF XAPOLEOX 



fro on the beach with cries of fright. But at last the 
fleet sailed off with its maimed freight, and Na-po-le-on 
marched in to Tou-lon with the troops that had gained 
the day They were drunk with joy. He did what he 
could to keep them from acts of crime, but for days there 
were sad scenes in that doomed place. The troops 
turned to a wild mob that sacked the stores, and took all 
the gold they could find. One old man, deaf and blind, 
was hung so that they could get his wealth. "When I 
; ^^ _ saw this," said Na-po- 

le-on, 'T felt as if the 
end of the world was 
at hand." These men 
who fought to be free 
from the rule of kings, 
were more hard of 
heart than the kings 
that had ruled them. 
They stopped at no 
crime, and Na-po-le- 




SACK-ING THE TOWN. 



on's heart erew sick as he saw their mad deeds. 

He had shown that he was so brave in this fight, that 
he was sent to the coast of the south of France, to guard 

He went to work with a 



it from the fleet of Eng-land. 



LIFE OF KAPOLEOX 



will. He climbed each high point of land, and stopped 
not to rest, though cold storms of wind and rain swept 
the bleak hills. Drenched with rain, wrapt in his cloak, 
he lived on the same coarse fair that the poor ate, and 
gave but few hours to sleep. He grew pale and wan 
with his work. When it was done he joined the troops 
at Nice. He wore a grey great coat, a plain round hat, 
and great boots, that did not fit his feet. His form was 
slight, and his hands as small as a girl's. His eye was 
bright, and he had a smile that won him friends. Some 
one said to his chief, " where did you pick up that bit 
of a man, and what is his name." " I picked him up at 
the siege of Tou-lon, where he helped us win the da)'," 
said the chief " His name is Bo-na-parte, and one day 

you will see that this bit of 
a man is great, in the true 
sense of the word." 

The French in Nice 
had the Aus-tri-ans for foes 
on all sides of them. As 
soon as Na-po-le-on came, 
he formed a plan that made 
them fly. Ere long the 
French held each pass, and 




NA-PO-LE-ON AT MCE. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



their flags waved in the breeze, from the tops of three 
of the Alps. 

Though Na-po-le-on was not at the head of the troops 
yet, his mind ruled. Just at this time he was called 
back to Par-is, on a false charge. The court set him free, 
but took his rank from him. This was such a blow to 
his pride that he would not serve at all, but joined Mad- 
ame Bo-na-parte who lived at Mar-seil-les. He soon tired 
of a life like this. The troops in the Alps had met with 
hard luck, and at last some one thought of the young man 
who had shown so much sense and skill. Par-is was in 
a bad state, and things grew worse each day. Mob rule 
was more hard to bear than king rule. The mob split in 
parts and each wished to rule. There was no trust in 




THE CEM-E-TE-RY GATE. 



God, no church, no priest. 
On the gates of the 
grave yards, they wrote 
these words, " Death is a 
long sleep." They had 
no hope of a world to 
come, and there seemed 
no hope for them here. 
The rich did not know 
what it was to starve for 



.LIFE OF AAPOLEON 



27 



lack of bread, or freeze in the cold nights with no bed 
but a heap of straw. "What do they want," asked a 
fair maid of high rank, when she heard the hoarse cries 
of the mob. "They want bread" said some one near. 
"Dear me," she cried "if they can't get bread why do they 
not eat cake." 



CHAPTER III. 



HOW HE PUT DOWN THE ivIOB. 



The folks of France who had got rid of their King 
and Queen, did not know what sort of rule they wished. 
At last, part of them met and said they would have five 
chiefs, whom they would call Di-rect-ors. This was the 
best plan that had yet been formed. They had Par-is 
set off in wards, as in our own town, and let the folks go 
to the polls, and vote on this plan. They gained it by 
but two votes, but the mob, that was at all times glad 
of a chance to break out, rose in a mass to fight it out. 
The troops on their side were not slow to do their part. 
They were well drilled, and when the first gun was fired 
by the mob, a huge crowd surged through the streets. 



28 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

The men who had formed the plan for " Di-rect-ors," 
were in a state of great fright. They had but a small 
band to meet the mob, and they could not feel sure of 
them. It was an hour of great gloom. A mild, good 
man was put at the head of the troops, but he had not 
the strength or nerve for such a work, and his men fell 
back when they saw the size of the mob. This made the 
mob bold, for they thought the troops would not dare to 
fire on them. The chief at the head of the troops was 
changed, but all felt that the one who lead them must 
face death. Then some one spoke of Na-po-le-on. " I 
know the one who can help us if there is help in man," 
was said. Na-po-le-on was there at the time, and the eye 
of him who spoke chanced to light on him. He called 
him out and showed him to the House. Na-po-le-on 
looked so small and young that beseemed a mere youth, 
and those who looked at him could not help some doubts. 

'* Will you take the charge" they asked. 

" I will" said Na-po-le-on. 

"Do you know all the risks?" 

Na-po-le-on fixed his keen eye on him who spoke, 
with a glance that few could meet and not quail. " I 
know them" he said, "and I can do the task." 

His tone stirred the House. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON 




NA-PO-LE-ON GIV-IN COM-MAND OF THE TROOPS. 



"But I must do all 
in my own way," he 
went on to say, "I 
must not be bound 
down with rules." 

There was no time 
to pause, and they 
gave in to him at once. 
He was prompt to 
act. He seized the 
guns that were in a 
place five miles from 
Par-is, and put them in place, so that they could sweep, 
with grape-shot, all the streets that led to the House, 

He knew that there were great odds in his way, but 
he showed ere long that his plan was a good one. 
When the light of morn dawned, the place was like a 
camp. He had posted his guns, so that each street and 
bridge was guarded, in a way that none could march 
through them; he was so calm and bold that his troops 
felt the same. The few words he spoke fired their 
hearts, and they felt that they must do or die. 

The bells rang out, and the drums beat in all parts 
of the town. The mob, in a black mass, made a start 



30 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 




THE MOB ON THE MARCH. 



for their march on those who sat in the House. They 
would fight the men, who had dared to seek to make a 
plan to rule them, that they did not like. On they came 
from all parts, with flags flung out, and the beat of 
drums. They were sure they would win the day, for 
they had such crowds in their ranks. They did not 
think that the few troops of Na-po-le-on, would dare 
stand in their way, so they came on right in the sweep 
of the grape shot. They fired first, and that was a sign 
for Na-po-le-on to act. In a flash, a great storm of grape 
shot swept the thronged streets. The dead fell in stacks, 
and the mob stopped. The storm of shot went on, and 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



- <^ 'M^^iil^^t^~?^^:._ 



^\^ 







DRIV-ING THE MOB WITH GRAPE SHOT. 



the mob turned and fled. In less than an hour the 
foe was not to be found. Then Na-po-le-on sent to all 
parts of Pa-ris, and took the guns from the men, so that 
they could not fight. He had the dead borne to their 
last homes, and those who had wounds sent where they 
would have care. Then with pale brow and calm mien, 
he went back to his place. He had gained the day, 
and the Di-rect-ors ruled Par-is. 

He was now famed, and kept his high rank. His 
first act was to place Mad-ame Bo-na-parte where he 
could take care of her. From that hour he did all he 
could for his kin, and he has been much blamed for it. 



32 L I F E F X A P L E N. 

Some of them did not do well, in the high place he gave 
them. Some that he put on thrones did not rule in a 
wise way, but that was not his fault. He found that he 
was in a hard place. Nought was fixed, and crowds 
of men had been thrown out of work. They stalked 
through the streets in grim ranks, with cries for " bread 
or blood." He did what he could to feed them. Once 
a fish wife, who looked large and well fed, called out to 
him in the street, " Oh, they don't care if we poor folks 
all starve, if they can but feed well, and grow fat." 

" Look at me," said Na-po-le-on, who was thin and 
spare, " tell me, my good dame, which is the more fat 
of the two?" 

But Par-is was in a sad state. The shops were closed, 
all work was at an end, and it seemed as if the poor 
must starve. The rich took the wrecks of their wealth 
that were left them, and fled from the town. There was 
no law, save that preached by the guns of Na-po-le-on. 
He went to all parts of the town, caused bread and 
wood to be sent to the poor, and did all that he could 
for them. One day a poor wife, with a dead child in 
her arms, spoke to him. **He starved to death," she 
said, " and there are five more at home who will go the 
same way. If no one will help me, I must take them 



L I F E F N A P LE O N. 



i((\ (iji^jT^^ 




NA-PO-LE-ON AND THE WO-MAN AND BA-BY. 



all and drown them, for I 
can not bear their cries for 
bread ; I, too, can find a 
home with them in death." 
Na-po-le-on gave her 
some gold, and then went 
on to a house where a feast 
was to be held, but he 
could not get these poor 
folks out of his mind. Ere 
he went home, he sought 
to find their home, and 
when he was sure all the poor dame had said was 
true, he found work for her girls, and was the friend of 
them all for life. 

When Na-po-le-on had sent to take the arms from 
the men of Par-is, so that the mob could not break out 
once more, the sword of a man by the name of Beau- 
har-nais was brought, with the rest. Beau-har-nais was 
dead, but his son Eu-gene, a fine boy of twelve, came to 
Na-po-le-on, and begged with tears that he would give 
this sword back to him. Na-po-le-on had not the heart 
to keep it from the boy. He sent for the sword and 
gave it to Eu-gene, who burst in tears, and could not 



34 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 




NA-PO-LE-ON AND EU-GENE. 



speak a word. When Jo- 
se-phine Beau-har-nais 
heard the tale from her 
son, she felt so touched 
at the kind way in which 
her boy had been treat- 
ed, that she called the 
next day to thank Na-po- 
le-on. She was dressed 
in deep black, and her 
form was full of grace. 
She had a sweet voice, 
a fair face, and all the charms of youth. Na-po-le-on 
was touched at her words, which seemed to come from 
a warm heart. He soon called on her and won her love, 
and in time they were wed. The day was 6th of March, 
1796. Though Na-po-le-on did not have faith in God, 
he went through the forms of the church, when he x^nadc 
Jo-se-phine his wife, and he said in the years to come, vhat 
his star rose and fell with Jo-se-phine. 

Young as he was, he was now made chief of the 
troops in It-a-ly. "You are young," said one of tlie 
Di-rect-ors, "to take such a charge." "In one year," 
said Na-po-le-on, " I shall be old or dead." " We have 



jlIFE of napoleon, 35 

but men to give you, the troops have nought, and we 
have no gold to buy food," said they. 

" Give me all the men you can, that is all I ask," said 
Na-po-le-on. 

He reached the camp of the French one cold night. 
The troops had been forced to fly to the Alps, and all 
was bare and cold. They had no food or fire. 

It may be well here to make clear to you the cause of 
this war. France, as we have told you, had grown tired 
of kings. The poor had borne for long years laws that 
ground them to the dust, and the rich men and lords 
had not cared for their woe. Now they had turned, and 
in their mad zeal or fear, great crimes were done.^ They 
drove the king from his throne, and cut off^ his head. 
They did not spare the queen or her son, who was a 
mere child. All the kings of Eu-rope looked on this 
sight with fear. They felt their own thrones shake, 
for from all sides a cry went up from the poor, " We, 
too, will be free, we will rule, we will have no more 
kings." From the mud huts of Ire-land, the work shops 
and thronged streets of the town, went up that cry, 
" You shall rule us no more." All the kinoes of all the 
lands felt that they must act. They saw that the King 
of France had lost his head, and no king-'s head was 



36 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

safe. They must crush this new force or fall by it. 
Eng-land, and Aus-tri-a, and It-a-ly, made a pact that 
they would fight for the rights of kings. Those in 
France, who were on their side, could fight with them. 
They took the name of Al-lies. 



CHAPTER IV. 

HOW HE TOOK THE BRIDGE AT LO-DI. 

Na-po-le-on wished, in the first place, to make It-a-ly 
give up, then to force Aus-tri-a to call their troops from 
the Rhine, and last, to pay back the Pope, who had 
sought to help those who were kin to the last king, 
and wished to get back the throne of France. 

His first words to his men thrilled their hearts. " You 
are cold," he said, " you are half starved. Your land 
can give you nought. It owes you much, but has not 
the means to pay. I come to lead you to plains rich in 
grain, to towns stored with wealth. All may be yours, 
if you will be brave." 

These words made the hearts of the men leap high. 
Na-po-le-on seemed to take no rest night or day. He 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 




NA-PO-LE-ON AD-DRESS-ING THE TROOPS. 



was on his horse most of 
the time. He rode here 
and there to cheer his 
men. The Alps, with 
their snow peaks, rose 
Hke a wall on one side. 
The Aus-tri-ans were hid 
from him by that wall. 
He brought all his force 
to bear on his first move. 
All his troops met at the 
hour he fixed, and through storms of rain and snow, by 
mount and moor, by night and by day, cold, starved 
and wet, the host pressed on. 

While the Aus-tri-ans slept in their tents, Na-po-le-on 
and his troops, drenched with rain, toiled on. Just as 
the day dawned, Na-po-le-on stood on the heights, in the 
rear of the Aus-tri-an camp, and saw his foe. He did 
not give his men time to rest. They bore down on the 
Aus-tri-ans front, flank and rear. The fight was long 
and hard. 

At last the Aus-tri-ans fled in fright. They left great 
heaps of dead on the field, and all their arms and flags in 
the hands of the French. This was the first great fight 



3S 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 




THE BAT-TLE OF MON-TE-NOTTE. 



in which Na-po-le-on was at the head of all the troops. 
It was called the fight of Mon-te-notte. 

The Aus-tri-ans fled one way, and the I-tal-ians made 
haste to reach their own town of Tu-rin. Na-po-le-on 
did not let his men rest long. He wished to meet the 
foe while they were weak with loss. In three days, 
three hard fights were won, and he held the ground. 

Still he knew that the foe was on all sides, with more 
men than he had, and he felt that all would be lost if 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



39 



he were not wise. There was no time to rest. From 
all parts the Aus-tri-ans and I-tal-ians rushed, to hem in 
this bold band that had dared to come and fight them. 
The Aus-trians had a vast horde in the rear of the 
French, but Na-po-le-on won the day, and at last came 
near Tu-rin, a town of the Sar-din-ians. The king was 
in great fright, for he knew that some of the men of his 
realm, were not foes to the French troops. There were 
crowds of the poor who did not hold with the rights of 
kings, and he feared they would join Na-po-le-on's ranks. 
So he made up his mind that he would leave the Al-lies, 
and so he saved his town. The Duke of Par-ma, too, 
gave up to the French force at once. But Na-po-le-on 
took scores of works of art from that place, to send to 

Par-is. The fact must 
be told in plain words, 
that he did not spare 
the spoils of war, but 
took what he choose, 
with a bold hand, in 
all the lands where 
his troops won the 
day. 
The Aus-tri-ans camped on one side of the Po, a large 




PIL-LAG-ING THE ART GAL-LER-IES. 



40 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

stream, that was right in the way of the French. It is 
one of the worst tasks for troops to cross a stream in 
the face of the foe, but Na-po-le-on by night turned 
down the banks of the stream, made a march of scores 
of miles, and seized all the boats in his way. He timed 
his march, so that all his troops met in one spot, at the 
same hour. Then they crossed the stream in the boats 
he had seized, and did not lose one man. The Aus- 
tri-ans, perched on house tops, fired down, and hoped 
to stop the French in their march through the streets, 
till their main troops should come. But the French 
met the foe with such a charge, that they drove them 
out, and the ground was strewn with the dead. 

The French kept on, while the Aus-tri-ans still fled. 
As night drew near, they reached Lo-di, a small town, 
and a stream which they crossed by a bridge of wood. 
The French rushed in the town, and in to each house, 
and sent out their fire. The Aus-tri-ans took their stand 
on the banks of the stream, and had their guns placed 
in such a way, that they could rake the whole length of 
the bridge with their fire. Na-po-le-on, in the midst 
of a hot fire, put all the guns he had in place. He then 
called his men. The chiefs of them said, no one could 
cross that bridge in the face of such a storm of balls as 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON 



they would meet. They must fail. " What," cried Na- 
po-le-on, " Fail, that word is not French." 

He chose a band of picked troops, and sent some 
more to ride to a ford, three miles from the town. The 
Aus-tri-ans had not thought of that spot, and Na-po-le-on 
thought his men could ford the stream at that place, and 
get in the rear of the foe. It was the tenth of May. 
The last rays of the sun fell on the hills. The scene 
had been one of peace. It was spring time, and all 
the land was fair, till these foes met to turn it to a scene 
of woe. 

When Na-po-le-on saw that his men and horses 
had ford-ed the stream, he made the charge. His line 
wheeled at once, and the streets were filled with a dense 
mass. They went on the full run, and rent the air with 
shouts as they dashed for the bridge. They were met 
by a hot fire, and were mowed down like grass in the 
way of a scythe. They could scarce make their way for 
the piles of the dead. At last they had forced the way 
on the bridge, but the fire seemed more than they could 
stand. Na-po-le-on seized a flag, plunged through the 
clouds of smoke, and took the head of the troops. At 
the same time his troops rode from the rear, met him, 
and the bridge was theirs. The Aus-tri-ans hurled their 



LIFE OF N A P L E N 



men at the French, but their cause was lost. The 
French seemed drunk with joy at what they had done, 
and they did not mind the balls, more than if they had 
been snow balls in the hands of a child. 

Lan-nes was first to cross the bridge, and Na-po-le-on 
was next. Lan-nes spurred his mad horse in the midst 
of the Aus-tri-an ranks. His horse was shot, and fell 
dead, but he jumped from its back, leaped on the steed 

of one of the Aus-tri- 
ans, and fought his 
way back to his own 
men. He had slain 
six of the Aus-tri-ans 
with his own hand. 
Na-po-le-on had seen 
all, and he raised Lan- 
nes' rank on the spot. 
This was known as 
the "fight of Lo-di," 
and took place loth 
of May, 1796. He 
marched on to Mi-lan, and a great part of the men 
hailed him as their friend. His troops had bread and 
meat, and he taxed the land for gold. But from all 




LAN-NES AT THE BAT-TLE OF LO-DI, 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON, 43 

parts of It-a-ly young men flocked to join his force. 
Cor-si-ca had once been I-tal-ian, and that was the 
lan-guage Na-po-le-on first spoke. So part of the I-tal- 
ians hailed him as one who should right their wrongs, 
and set them free from the rule of king and popes. He 
put down all that were not for him, burnt the towns 
that did not give up to him, he made his way to rule 
through flames and blood, but such is the chance of 
war. In a short time he had awed all the south of 
It-a-ly, and then he went to Man-tu-a. This was the 
spot on which all the eyes of Eu-rope were turned. 
It was thought to be so strong, that no force could 
take it. 



CHAPTER V. 



THE SIEGE OF MAN-TU-A. 



The troops of Na-po-le-on had no time to rest. They 
marched by day, oft drenched with rain, and at night 
lay down on the wet ground, with no tents to shield 
them from the storm It was not strange that they 
grew sick, and those who had been spared by shot 
and sword, fell by the way. North of Man-tu-a, lay 



LIFE OF XA POLE OX. 



the Lake of Gar-da, and near it the walled town of 
Trent. Here the Aus-tri-ans had a vast lot of troops, 
with food and arms, and they meant to march down to 
Man-tu-a, and help those shut up in the walls of the 
town. The fate of Na-po-le-on seemed sealed. All the 
Al-lies and the Pope were in great cheer. The old 
Aus-tri-an Gen-e-ral Wurm-ser, rubbed his hands, and 
cried, " We shall soon have the boy now." 

Na-po-le-on formed- a plan at once. He seemed to 
give up the siege of Man-tu-a. He gave the word to his 
troops to set out on their march. The sun had gone 
down, and night had come, but not an eye was closed. 
What the men could not take with them, they cast in 
the lake. The Aus-tri-ans, who were on their way to 
help Man-tu-a, were met by the French, and could not 
stand. They broke and fled, but Na-po-le-on and his 
men were at their heels. He urged his troops to the 
full run. " Your legs must save us now," he said to 
his men. Wurm-ser had made haste to bring all the 
men he could to help. The pride of the Aus-tri-ans 
was roused, and they fought like brave men, long and 
well. Na-po-le-on rode, here and there, to cheer his 
troops. He did not stop to rest. At last the Aus-tri- 
ans were put to flight. All the Al-lies were in great 



LIFE OF X A P O L E O X. 



45 



fear. Na-po-le-on led his troops back to camp near Man- 
tu-a. Aus-tri-a would still make no peace with France. 
They set to work to raise more troops to help Man- 

tu-a, and Na-po-le-on 
found once more a oreat 
force in his way, twice as 
as large as his own. He 
did not flinch. He burst 
on the foe in the first 
grey of the dawn, when 
they did not dream he 
was near. The fight was 
short, but he put them to 
rout; and they fled to the 
caves and rocks. Then 
Na-po-le-on led his troops on to Trent. He" told the 
men there that he fought for peace, that if they did not 
take up arms with his foes, he would guard all their 
rights. In more than one fight he won, but he still 
found that Aus-tri-a had a ereat force. He wrote 
home to the Di-rect-ors, "All of our great men are 
dead or wounded. Our troops have been cut down 
till a mere hand full is left. My own health is so bad. 




THE SIEGE OF MAN-TU-A. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



that I have scarce strength to sit on my horse. You 
must send more men, or It-a-ly is lost." 

He did not talk to the troops in that way. "One 
more blow," he said "and It-a-ly will be ours." He 
worked hard night and day. He tried to make friends 
of the I-tal-ians. The men from some states of the 
Pope sent word to him that they wished to be free. 
He said he would grant their wish, and the joy of all 
was great. They hailed him as a friend, and helped 
him fight the Aus-tri-ans. A large part of the folks in 
It-a-ly longed to be free from the rule of popes and 
kings. They were all friends of the French. They 
looked on Na-po-le-on as an I-tal-ian, and were proud 
of his fame. 

The cold winds swept through the hills, and the 
Aus-tri-ans felt they must .miake a grand move, or they 
would be stopped by the snow. Gen-er-al Vau-bois 
was camped with his men, a few miles north of Trent, 
in a small pass, to watch the Aus-tri-ans. He took 
fright and fled, when he saw how great was their force. 
Na-po-le-on was in a rage. He called all his troops, 
and each eye was fixed on that pale, wan face. In a 
voice that was sad, yet stern, he said, " Men, I am not 
pleased with you. You have not been brave. You 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



47 



have let the foe drive you from a place that you might 
have held. Chief of the staff, write, These men are no 

more part of the troops 
in It-a-ly." 

Such words fell like 
a death knell on the 
ears of these men. The 
tears rolled down their 
cheeks. They rushed 
to Na-po-le-on and 
X- begged, " Try us once 
more. The foe w^ere 
three to our one. Put 
us in a post where we 
can show that we still have the heart to fight for a 
great cause." 

Na-po-le-on was moved. In the next fight he placed 
them in the rear, and they fought like brave men. The 
tide rolled back, and the French won. Still Man-tu-a 
did not give up. Storms came, and the French were 
sore tried. The ground was so wet with rain, that it 
was hard to dragr the euns throuefh the mire. But Na- 
po-le-on felt It was time to move. The wind swept the 
bleak hills, a storm of sleet whirled through the air. 




NA-PO-LE-ON AND THE FU-GI-TIVES. 



48 LIFE UF NAPOLEOX. 

No pen can write of such scenes of woe, in words that 
will show them to you. Through the long hours came 
the orroans of those who were soon to die. The snow 
grew red with blood. Far from those they loved, with the 
snow for their death beds, those who had gone out in the 
flush of youth and hope, lay down to die. Through all 
the hours of that long night, they writhed and groaned 
with pain. Drenched with rain, with no friend at their 
side to hear their last words, they drew their last breath. 
Such scenes are part of the curse of war. Na-po-le-on 
and his troops had to fall back. The Aus-tri-an's ranks 
filled fast. In the night, while the Aus-tri-ans slept, 
Na-po-le-on drew off his men. The troops were much 
cast down, for they feared the worst. They were marched 
to a great marsh, miles long. All at once they saw 
Na-po-le-on's plan. It was a good place for a small 
force to fight. Shouts of joy rang through the ranks. 
It was black night, but the Aus-tri-an fire could be seen. 
At the break of day, the foe rushed down on them. 
There was a bridge on the stream, and Na-po-le-on called 
out, " Think of Lo-di." He rushed on at the head of 
his troops. They took the bridge. Gen-er-al Lan-nes 
ofot three wounds as he tried to shield his chief. A ball 
struck the horse on which Na-po-le-on rode. It seized 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



49 



the bit with its teeth, and tore in to the Aus-tri-an ranks. 

Then it plunged in the marsh and died, 

Na-po-.e-on was left 
in the swamp, up to his 
neck in the mire. But 
his troops helped him 
out. At last the Aus- 
tri-ans broke and fled. 
Na-po-le-on marched 
back to Ve-ro-na. He 
wrote to his wife, "Soon 
Man-tu-a will be ours." 
This fight, on the 

NA-PO-LE-ON MIRED IN THE MARSH OF AR-CO-LA. mSrch of A T-CO-l a Wa*^ 

one of great skill. " The French," said the Aus-tri-ans, 
"do not march, they fly." Their marsh to Man-tu-a was 
swift. Wurm-ser, and his half starved troops, came out 
to fight. They had not a horse left in their town, for 
they had all been used for food. There was nought left 
but for him to give up. The next day, the Aus-tri-ans 
marched out from Man-tu-a, and laid down their arms 
at the feet of Na-po-le-on. He then left one of his brave 
men as charge, and turned his force on the States of the 
Pope. To the troops of the Pope he said, " I am the 




50 



^ 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 




THE SUR-REN-DER OF THE AUS-TRI-AN AR-MY. 



friend of It-a-ly, I come for your good, to make you 
free." They laid ^pwn their arms, and were his friends 
frorn that hour. Tnks, in ten months, Na-po-le-on drove 
the Aus-tri-ans out of It-a-ly. He said to the I-tal-i-ans, 
" We have freed you, take care of your rights, make 
good laws, and cause them to be kept. In a few years, 
if you are true men, you will be so strong, none can 
take your rights from you." 



LIFE OF NA P L E O X, 



CHAPTER VI. 



ON LIN-DEN WHEN THE SUN WAS LOW. 

Na-po-le-on then took up his march for Vi-en-na. 
He fought his way in to Aus-tri-a. The Alps were 
passed, but the Aus-tri-ans stood out at each pass, and 
were slain in heaps. Each walled town was the scene 
of a fight. All was fright in Vi-en-na. The Em-per-or 
and his lords fled like deer. The man who led the 

Aus-tri-ans, the Arch- 
Duke Charles, sent out 
a flag of truce to gain 
time. But Na-po-le-on 
was not caught in that 
trap. He sent word to 
the Aus-tri-ans that he 
fought for peace, " that 
the Aus-tri-ans would 
find him a friend, but 
that Aus-tri-a, bribed 
by Eng-land s gold, had 
made war on France." 




THE FLAG OF TRUCE. 



52 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

The Aus-tri-ans cried out for peace. Both sides 
wished to end the war, and Na-po-le-on signed the 
deed. Then he turned his eye on Ven-ice, which had 
raised the cry, " Death to the French." They killed 
French men in the street. But when they knew that 
Na-po-le-on v/as near, they were half dead with fright. 
They sent great sums to the Di-rect-o-ry, Par-is, for a 
bribe. But Na-po-le-on scorned bribes. He marched 
on to Ven-ice, and the poor folks hailed him with glad 
shout. He cast down the great, and set all rank at naught. 
He flung out the flag of France to the breeze, and 
made the poor man the peer of the rich. He sent for 
Jo-se-phine, and they held their court in Mi-lan. Peace 
was made with Ger-ma-ny, but the Ger-mans did not 
keep it. The French grew so proud of Na-po-le-on, 
that the Di-rect-ors were not pleased. When he was 
seen in the streets, men rent the air with shouts. So 
he was sent with troops to E-gypt, and the Di-rect-ors 
hoped he would not come back. 

On the 1 6th of June, the French saw the white cliffs 
of Mal-ta, and in two weeks more E-gypt's shores of 
sand were in sight. Some boats were swamped, and 
some lives lost as they sought to land. Then they set 
out on their march to Cai-ro. Na-po-le-on told the men 



LIFE OF N A P L E N. 



53 







THE LAN'D-ING IN E-GYPT. 



in each place, that he had come to help them keep down 
the foes, who had made slaves of them. " If E-gypt is 
their farm," he said, " let them show their lease from God, 
by which they hold it." There were those who heard 
his words with joy and gave him aid. 

He found that the march through the sands was hard. 
His men grew sick, and sad, and faint, as they toiled on 
hour by hour, while the hot sun played on their heads. 
But Na-po-le-on toiled on foot at the head of his troops. 
As they drew near the Nile, herds of A-rabs, each on 
a fleet steed, and armed with short guns, would rush on 
them, while they rent the air with their yells. At last 
the Nile came in sight. Shouts of joy burst from the 



54 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 




THE MARCH TO CAI-RO. 



ranks. The men rushed on, and plunged in its waves. 
They drank, and drank as if they could not stop. Cai-ro 
is on the east banks of the Nile. Na-po-leron saw that 
the whole plain was full of armed men. Mu-rad Bey, 
who led them, said to his troops, "You shall now see 
us cut off those dogs like gourds." But Na-po-le-on 
had put his guns in such a place, that he could plough 
their ranks. The foe wheeled round, and tried to ride 
them down. But the men who fell, crawled on the 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



ground, and cut at the horses' legs. At last the foe fled, 
some plunged in the Nile, and the stream was stained 
in blood. The camp, with all its wealth, fell in Na-po- 
le-on's hands. There were arms of all sort, rich shawls, 
rare gems, A-rab steeds, and much gold. 

Na-po-le-on then marched on to Cai-ro. But he soon 
had a check, when he found that Eng-land had sent to 
help the E-gypt-ians. They had a great man at the head 
of the troops, by the name of Nel-son. The French 
were so near the shore of the bay, at A-bou-kir, that 
they felt safe, but Nel-son thought there was room for 
his ships. " If we win, what will the world say?" asked 
one of Nel-son's men. "There is no if in the case," 
said Nel-son, "we shall be sure to win." The fight was 
long and brave. Dark night came on, and the bay 
seemed one mass of fire. The French fleet had but 
four ships left when all was done, and the English had 
borne great loss. Nel-son was struck on the head with 
a ball, and the French Ad-mi-ral, Brueys, would not 
leave the deck of his ship, and he was shot dead. 
When they took Nel-son to the cock pit, drenched in 
blood, to dress his wounds, he would not let them touch 
him till his mens' wounds were dressed. " I will take 
my turn with my men," said he. This fight is known 



56 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 




THE BAT-TLE OF A-BOU-KIR BAY, OX THE NILE. 



as the " Bat-tie of the Nile." The Eng-lish had won, 
and it was the death blow of Na-po-le-on's hopes in 

E-gypt. 

We have not room in this small book to tell of all 
the small fights of the French, or we would have to fill 
it with names. We will, then, take the great moves of 
the troops led by Na-po-le-on, and the great fights he 
gained. He led his men to Syr-i-a, and fought the 
Turks and Eng-lish there. The plague broke out in 
his ranks, but he had no fear, and he went and sat by 
the cots of his sick men to cheer them. He sought to 



LIFE OF NAP OLE OX 



57 



A%i^ 



take the strong fort of A-cre, and the Turks were at last 
cut off Their camp, and all in it, fell in the hands 
of the French. But the siege was not at an end. 
The Eng-lish ships poured fire on Na-po-le-on's men, 
but they picked up the balls that fell on them, and 
used them, as they were out of balls. At last the 
French had to give up the siege of A-cre. They went 

back to Cai-ro, and on 
to France, for Na-po-le- 
on had heard that his 
land was in a sad state. 
He was hailed with 
cheers. The crowd 
cried "Long live Bo-na- 
parte." The Di-rect-ors 
heard it, and felt that it 
was their death knell. 
All Par-is was wild with 
joy. They had grown 
tired of the Di-rect-ors, and Na-po-le-on saw that it 
would be best for France, to have one man at its head. 
They had been left too much to the schemes and rule 
of those who sought to get the reins in their hands. 
He fixed an hour for all his troops and friends to meet 




THE SIEGE OF A-CRE. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 




him, and then he stepped 
out, and in a loud and 
firm' voice, read the plan 
he had drawn up. " Will 
you," he said, " help me 
to save the Re-pub-lic of 
France?" One cry burst 
forth from all, as they 
drew out their swords, 
and waved them in the 
air. " We swear it, we 
swear it." 

Na-po-le-on was now at the head of the French. The 
Di-rect-ors gave up, and the guns of Par-is pealed out, 
and all seemed full of joy. He was named First Con- 
sul, but he had all the might of a king. He was strong, 
and all France seemed to be on his side. He was not 
too proud to ask Eng-land for peace, but she would not 
have it. So he said, " Eng-land wants war, well, she shall 
have it, yes, war to the death." He tried, too, to make 
peace with the Em-per-or of Aus-tri-a, but in vain. He 
had then once more to go forth and meet his foes. He 
had to cross the Alps, by a path that was so small, that 
one false step would have plunged him and his men 



THE RE-TURN TO FRANCE. 




_.t„^_^Ti}-.^y ^^^ J^rS^ 




^^^^^^ 


r^^^^^^^ 


» ^^Ki 








^ ^ 


j'^'^ |.^# 


ft 


-if 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON, 



59 



to death. Eng-land and Aus-trl-a laughed his plan to 
scorn. How could the great guns be drawn through 
such a pass? Na-po-le-on was the last man to cross. 
He was dressed in his grey coat, and rode a mule. 
The troops pressed on to A-os-ta, but they found there 
was scarce room to march at the side of the stream. 
All at once they came on a fort that stopped the way. 
Its guns were so placed that their fire would sweep 
the pass. 

Na-po-le-on climbed a rock, and took out his field 
glass, and spied a place where he thought a man might 
pass. One by one the men filed on, and steeds were led 
where the hoof of horse had not trod till that day. At 
last the Aus-tri-ans found they were hemmed in. The 
first fight was at Mon-te-bel-lo. Gen-er-al Lan-nes led, 
and the shot from the guns swept through his ranks, so 
that he said, " I could hear the bones crash like glass in 
a hail storm." Na-po-le-on reached the field of war, 
just in time to see the fight won. The brave Lan-nes 
stood in the midst of a mound of the dead, his face 
black with smoke. He was called the Duke of Mon- 
te-bel-lo from that day. 

On the plain of Ma-ren-go, a great fight was fought. 
The French fled at first, but Na-po-le-on cheered them 



6o LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

SO, that they turned back, and put the Aus-tri-ans to 
flight. When the sun went down on this field of blood, 
the sight was a sad one. Once more on the field of 
Ma-ren-go, he wrote to the Em-per-or of Aus-tri-a, and 
asked for peace. His two great friends, De-saix and 
Kle-ber were dead, and his heart was sad. But Aus-tri-a 
had pledged her word to Eng-land not to make peace 
with France. Wil-liam Pitt, the chief of that part of 
the Eng-lish who wished for kings to rule them, was for 
war. France could not harm Eng-land, he thought. 
With her great fleet, she could sweep France from the 
seas. Aus-tri-a thought that no sane man would try to 
lead troops through Ger-ma-ny, in the cold months of 
storms of sleet and snow. But Na-po-le-on had no 
fear. He sent one part of his troops to meet the Aus- 
tri-ans in It-a-ly, and they won. Gen-er-al Mo-reau was 
in charge of the troops on the Rhine. There are two 
streams, named the I-ser and the Inn, with dark pine 
woods through which roads had been cut. 

Perhaps you have heard of the fight that took place 
there, near a place called Ho-hen-lin-den. The school 
boys speak a piece yet, of which the first line is, 

" On Lin-den when the sun was low." 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON 



6i 




BAT-TLE OF HO-HEN-LIN'-DEN. 



And we hear, " how the drums beat at dead of night," 
and how the fires of death ht the scene. The clocks had 
just tolled the hour of twelve. A snow storm howled 
through the tree tops, and It was hard to drag the guns 
through the drifts. There was the blaze from the guns, 
the crash of the trees as the balls cut them down, to add 
to the scene of woe. The French could scarce see the 
foe. At times they fought hand to hand. When the 
day dawned, the fight still raged. On the mounds of 
snow lay the dead. The French won on each point. 



62 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

The Aus-tri-ans fled in great fright. Mo-reau and his 
men rushed on at their heels with shot and shell. Aus- 
tri-a was glad to make peace with France then, and she 
had no foe left but Eng-land. Na-po-le-on set his mind 
then to do the best he could, for the good of the French, 
in the arts of peace. The great mass of folks in Eng- 
land were tired of war. The poor were half starved, 
the tax grew, and a great debt was on the land. When 
peace was at last signed, men wept with joy. Each stage 
coach that ran from Lon-don had these words on it, 
" Peace with France," 

Na-po-le-on was then made First Con-sul for life, but 
he had more than the might of kings. There were 
those who wished him to take the name of king. By 
the terms of the peace, Eng-land was to take her troops 
out of E-gypt and Mal-ta. She did not keep her word. 
Na-po-le-on would not give up Mal-ta to them, and so 
war was brouQrht on once more. The Enor-lish seized 
French ships, and, in time, some of their ships were 
seized. At this time there was a plot found out, by 
which Na-po-le-on was to be put out of the way. Two 
of his great Gen-er-als were in it, and there are those 
who say, that the whole thing was got up by Na-po- 
le-on, to get rid of two men who were so great, that 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



they stood in his way. Gen-er-al Pich-e-gru died in 
jail, hung, it is said, by his own hand. Gen-er-al Mo- 
reau, when he had spent two years in jail, was sent out 
of France. 

A Prince of the blood, tne Due d' Eng-hien, was put 
to death for his part in this plot. 

Then the French wished that Na-po-le-on should wear 
the crown of France. The lands that were ruled by 
kings, were glad to hear of such a change. The Sen- 
ate of France passed a vote, "That Na-po-le-on Bo-na- 
parte should be named Em-per-or of France." They 
sent it to him, at his home at St. Cloud, i8th of May, 
1804. He met those who brought it with a calm face. 
Jo-se-phine was at his side. The chief of the Sen-ate 
made him a speech, and as soon as he was done, the 
cry, " Long live the Em-per-or," rang out on all sides. 
Na-po-le-on bowed to the wish of all, and was crowned 
by the Pope, in Par-is. 

But the Al-lies hoped still. They did not mean to 
keep the terms of peace. They reached Ulm, in Ba- 
va-ri-a, and took up a strong hold. Hosts of Rus-sians 
were on the march to join them. They meant to take 
the French when they were off their guard. But Na- 
po-le-on was not a man to be trapped. All at once, with 



C4 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



a host of men, he was in their rear. It was as if his 
troops had come down from the clouds. The Aus-tri- 
ans threw down their arms, and fled this way and that, 
in their fright. Na-po-le-on sent troops to Ulm, to call 
on the force there, to give up the town. His guns 




THE SIEGE OF ULM. 



were placed on heights, so that the fire could rake the 
streets. A storm of sleet fell. There was no hope for 
those in the town, and they made terms, marched out, 
and laid down their arms at Na-po-le-on's feet. 

The next day, the French fleet, with that of Spain, 
were met by the Eng-lish ships of Cape Tra-fal-gar. A 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



65 



hard fight took place, and Eng-land won. They took 
nine of the ships, seven were so pierced, that they were 
of no more use, and four made their way to the Straits, 
but fell in the hands of the foe in a few days. 

Still he knew that a great force of the Rus-sians was 
on the way to meet him, and that Prus-sia had joined 
the Al-lies. There was Eng-land, too, with her troops, 
to join the rest. But Na-po-le-on would not go back. 
" On to Vi-en-na," was his cry, and the Aus-tri-ans in 
that town were crazed with fright. .The Em-per-or 
Fran-cis fled as the hosts drew near. Soon the French 
troops were on the heights round Vi-en-na, and the sun 

shone on stacks of arms. 
A band of the town folks 
came out to beg for peace. 
All the gold and arms fell 
in Na-po-le-on's hands. 
But he did not rest at Vi- 
en-na. Not an hour was 
to be lost. On the field 
of Aus-ter-litz he met his 
foes. The dawn was clear, 
and the sun rose. The 
EN-TRY OF NA-PO-LE-ON iN-To VI-EN-NA. Frcnch fouttd out 2i wcak 




66 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

spot in the troops of the Al-hes. They pierced it, and 
the ranks were cut in twain. Then Na-po-le-on kept the 
right wing, so that it could not help the left, and the day 
was won. Part of the foe, in their fright, tried to cross 
a lake where the ice looked strong, but it broke, and the 
mass was plunged in the waves. Thus the fight of Aus- 
ter-litz came to an end, and gave Na-po-le-on great fame. 
He had used but half his men, and the Al-lies were two 
to his one. Their loss was great, and the Aus-tri-ans felt 
that all was lost. Their Em-per-or Fran-cis sent Prince 
John to try to get a truce. A truce means that the 
fight should be stopped for a time. Na-po-le-on said he 
would see the Em-per-or, and Fran-cis met him and got 
good terms. The fight ceased, peace was signed, and 
the Aus-tri-ans and Rus-sians went home. 

Once more Na-po-le-on had made peace with all the 
world but Eng-land. He turned his mind to works of 
peace. He formed a plan to join the Lou-vres with the 
Tuil-er-ies, and to keep in it all the choice gems of art 
he had won. He built the grand "Arch of Tri-umph," 
and the bronze shaft in the Ven-dome, on which is 
carved the scenes of Aus-ter-litz and Ulm. Bridges 
were built that took their names from the great fights 
he had won. He made Jo-seph Bo-na-parte King of 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON, 67 

Na-ples. Hol-land chose Lou-is Bo-na-parte for its 
king. Eu-gene was sent to rule It-a-ly. Eng-land, Rus- 
sia and Prus-sia joined once more, as Al-lies. Na-po- 
le-on was roused. He said, " I will fix things this time, 
so that my foes can not stir for ten years." 



CHAPTER Vn. 

ONCE MORE THE CRY "TO ARMs!" 

Na-po-le-on once more took the head of his troops, 
and with a swift march, got in the rear of the Prus-sians. 
He felt sure that he would win, but he wrote to the 
King of Prus-sia, " I am now in the heart of Sax-o-ny, I 
know my strength is such as your force can not put 
down. But why shed so much blood?" 

The King of Prus-sia was not heard from, and in two 
days Na-po-le-on and his men met the great hosts of the 
Prus-sians on the fields of Je-na and Auer-stadt. The 
Prus-sians were on a hill, but Na-po-le-on drove them 
off at once, and took their place. From the brow of 
that hill, the whole lines of the Prus-sians could be seen 
for leagues. 



68 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



But he could not see the plain of Auer-stadt twelve 
miles off, and he did not know that the Prus-sians had 
a strong force there. Night came on, and as the French 




THE BAT-TLE OF JE-NA. 



dragged their guns to the top of the hill, Na-po-le-on 
worked with his own hands, for they had to blast the 
rocks to smooth the way. Through the long night they 
toiled, while the flames from the watch fires of the Prus- 
sian hosts lit the sky. At that time word was brought 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON 



that Spain had left the French, and made friends with 
the Eng-Hsh. 

At four in the morn there was a dense fog. The 
French troops were numb with cold, and were glad when 
the sign was made to fire. Na-po-le-on rode through 
the ranks, and cheered them. The French pierced the 
Prus-sian lines on all sides. For eight hours the fight 
raged. At one time, the Prus-sians seemed to win. 
They had a force kept back, and they were called to 
the front, but Na-po-le-on, too, had his fresh troops. At 
four, he sent Mu-rat at their head. The sound of swift 
hoofs was heard as this mass swept on, and charged the 
worn troops of the Prus-sians. The day was won by 
the French. The Prus-sians rushed from the field, in 
a storm of balls. The French, on their steeds, rode 
them down, and they were crushed to the earth. At 
Auer-stadt, too, the French force had gained the day. 
The Prus-sians fled from that place, and met those who 
fled from Je-na. Mu-rat, with his men, were in the midst 
of them, and the dead soon strewed the plain. The 
King of Prus-sia fled, in the midst of his troops, at 
Auer-stadt. In the gloom of night he plunged through 
field and wood, and at last reached a place where he 
was safe. 



70 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



Je-na was fought the 1 7th Oc-to-ber, 1 806. In less than 
two weeks there was not a fort in Prus-sia that was not 
in the hands of the French, and Na-po-le-on was in 
Ber-Hn, in the grand home of the king. He made 
terms with Sax-o-ny, which had been forced by Prus- 
sia to fiorht him. He had all Prus-sia now in his hands. 
He could take all he liked as spoils of war. 

The King of Prus-sia was far off in the wilds where 
he had fled, but he still hoped to win with the help of 
the hordes of Rus-sia. Na-po-le-on led his troops to 




THE BAT-TLE OF EY-LAU. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



meet the Al-lies to the banks of the Vis-tu-la. He 
drove them through storm and ice to the plain of Ey-lau. 
The night was dark and cold, and the Rus-sians had 
formed lines on a hill. Na-po-le-on came to the plain 
with his troops, who had groped their way through 
drifts and gloom. They had to sleep, as they could, in 
the snow. Na-po-le-on slept (for an hour in a chair), 

and was scarce down, when 
the shots were heard. The 
earth shook with the sound. 
The snow drove in their faces 
so that they could scarce see, 
as they rushed to and fro on 
the plam. The air was soon 
so filled with smoke that the 
day was as dark as night. 
The flash of the guns could 
Up and down the field of 
blood rode Na-po-le-on. He paid no heed to the balls, 
and he seemed to bear a charmed life. The light of day 
passed, and a new night of woe came on. 

At last the Rus-sians fled. Na-po-le-on lOoked with 
a sad heart at the field of blood, and woe, and death. 
Heaps of men, torn by balls, lay on the snow and ice 




NA-PO-LE-ON AT EY-LAU. 

not be seen in the Sfloom 



72 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



that were stained with blood. Na-po-le-on wrote once 
more to the King of Prus-sia to plead for peace, but his 
plea was not heard. 

The cold months were passed in camp with his troops, 
in the heart of Po-land. In June, the Al-lies made a 
rush from their camps, with the hope that they might 
take the French troops, who were in charge of Mar- 
shal Ney, by storm. This was the sign for all the 
French force to move. The hosts met, and Na-po-le-on, 
by his great skill, got the best of his foes. They fled, 
but he was at their heels. In each town the Rus-sians 
made a stand. More than one field was made red with 
blood. Men and their wives, fled with their boys and 
girls, from homes that blazed in the storm of shot and 
shell. Fields of grain were trod down in the mire, and 
still the storm of war swept on. Na-po-le-on seemed 
not to eat, or sleep, or rest. He did not mind the rain, 
the gloom, or the storm. The French, with Mar-shals 
Mu-rat and Ney at their head, dashed at the guns of 
the foe, and whole ranks were mowed down. The 
day dawned with wind and rain. The FVench were 
on a plain, but Na-po-le-on made out to get in the rear 
of the foe, and drove them on. Once more the Rus- 
sians made a stand on the plain of Fried-land. When 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



n 



Na-po-le-on stood on the heights, and saw that the foe 
was hemmed in by a band in the stream, and that his 
own troops were on all sides, a gleam of joy came to 
his face. He showed Mar-shal Ney the small town 
of Fried-land, and the Rus-sians massed in front of it. 
"That is the goal," said he, "march straight to it, and 
do not look back. Break through that thick mass at all 
costs. Give no thought to what goes on at your right, 
left, or in the rear. Take the bridges. I will tend to 
the rest." 

Ney, proud of the trust put in him, set forth at once 




THE BAT-TLE OF FKIED-LAND. 



74 LIFE OF NAPOLEON, 

at the head of his troops. The mass seemed to shake 
the plain with its tread, as it hurled on the foe. Fried- 
land was soon in flames, and they held the town. The 
foe, as they fled, plunged in the stream. Some found 
fords, and reached the shore, but more were swept to 
their death. The shore, for miles, was lined with the 
corpses of drowned men, and the stream ran red with 
blood. The fight of Fried-land took place on the 14th 
of June, 1807. 

The Al-lies could now make no stand. The Rus- 
sians called for peace. The Em-per-or sent to Na-po- 
le-on to beg a truce. Prus-sia, too, was in great haste 
to come to terms. The French had made their camp 
near the small town of Til-sit. Na-po-le-on caused a 
raft to be made, and moored in the stream. On each 
shore the troops were drawn up, and the men looked on 
to see the two Em-per-ors meet on this raft. The first 
words that Alex-an-der said were, " I hate the Eng-lish 
as much as you do. I will help you fight them." 

" In that case," said Na-po-le-on, "our peace is made." 
Next day, Fred-er-ic, of Prus-sia, came with the Rus- 
sian Em-per-or. His land was in Na-po-le-on's hands, and 
he had not much to say. Alex-an-der and Na-po-le-on 
grew to be great friends. They would spend hours with 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 75 

the map of the world in front of them. The peace, 
which was signed in this place, is known as the '* Peace 
of Til-sit." Na-po-le-on gave half his land back to the 
King of Prus-sia. All would have been peace but for 
Eng-land. She would not sheathe her sword. She still 
tried, by her gold, to get new Al-lies. 

Na-po-le-on now turned his mind to works of peace 
in France. He had bridges made, and built miles of road, 
and great schools of law. He filled Par-is with works 
of art, and drew those who could paint well to his court, 
as well those who had first rank in all the arts. Eng- 
land in the mean time had not been at rest. The brave 
Duke of Wel-ling-ton, who was at the head of her troops, 
took the great town of the Danes. All thoughts of peace 
were at an end when Na-po-le-on heard of this. Aus- 
tri-a had not been friends with France at heart, and they 
drilled troops in all parts of the land. Spain had turned 
on the French, and did not wish Jo-seph Bo-na-parte for 
their king. Fires blazed on each hill. They tried to 
hunt Jo-seph from his throne. He was a mild man, and 
loved peace. He wrote to Na-po-le-on of his sad straits, 
and asked for help. Na-po-le-on sent men, but they had 
to give up to the Al-lies. Jo-seph fled from Mad-rid. 
He had not force or strength to hold his place. 



76 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

At length, Rus-sia and France were bound to be 
friends, in war or peace. At this time, Na-po-le-on 
was made sad, by a great grief that came in his Hfe. 
The French thought that France would be made more 
strong, if he would take a wife, from one of the great 
courts of Eu-rope. That he could make up his mind 
to give up Jo-se-phine, who had stood by him in all the 
ups and downs of his life, is a great stain on his fame. 
She had loved him through good and ill, and they were 
bound by ties that should have held fast for life. God 
seems to have frowned on the deed, for, from the day 
he left Jo-se-phine, his star went down. Na-po-le-on 
loved her, but there is no doubt, that he cared more for 
his great throne and place in the world. Rus-sia and 
France sent to Eng-land to ask for peace for the world, 
but they would not hear their plea. The gold of Eng- 
land roused Spain to new deeds of blood, and Aus-tri-a 
gained fresh hope. The storms of war once more swept 
Eu-rope in flame and blood. Na-po-le-on was forced 
to take his troops to Spain. He stormed the passes, and 
won in the fights, and pressed on to Mad-rid. 

The sun had gone down, but the night was calm and 
Oright. He sent to bid those in the town to yield. They 
would not, and the French took the out-posts of the 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON 




STORM-ING OF MAD-RID. 



town. In Mad-rid the streets were full of awild mob, 
who killed all whom they thought friends of the French. 
Church bells tolled all the time, and the monks, at the 
head of the mob, helped them tear up the streets, and 
make mounds, for their guns. Na-po-le-on did not wish 
to send his shells in the town, where were wives with 
help-less babes in their arms. He made a breach, and 
his troops rushed in to the streets of the town. He had 
guns on the heights, and could lay the town low in a 



78 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

short time. But he gave them still the chance to yield, 
and they saw that it must be done. The French went 
in and Na-po-le-on took the rule. He made some good 
laws. In less than five weeks, half of Spain was at his 
feet. The Eng-lish left by their Al-lies were in flight. 



CHAPTER VHI. 



ON THE ISLE OF LO-vBAU. 



In the midst of a storm, Na-po-le-on urged on his 
troops in a forced march. The wind blew, and the snow 
fell in sheets that blocked up the paths. Na-po-le-on 
forced his way through the thronged gorge to the head 
of his ranks, and found they were held at bay by the 
storm. The guides said that they could not go through 
the wild passes of the Gua-dar-rama in such a blast. 
Na-po-le-on told the men to get down and lead their 
horses ; so they all had to climb the steep way on foot. 
When they had crossed, the snow changed to rain. The 
wheels sank in ruts of mire. Gen-er-al Moore, who led 
the Eng-lish troops, was in full flight, and burnt each 
bridge when they had crossed it. The wrecks of his 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



79 




CROSS-ING THE GUA-DAR-RAMA FLATS. 



troops strewed the ground for leagues. While In the 
midst of all this, Na-po-le-on heard that Aus-tri-a had 
joined Eng-land to fight him in the North. The Turks 
were not pleased with him as the friend of Rus-sia, and 
threats came from the East. A great part of the Rus- 
sians wished to join Tur-key to Rus-sia, and as Na-po- 
le-on would not have that, they were his foes, though 
Alex-an-der, their Em-per-or, was still his friend. Once 
more a great war that would rock all Eu-rope seemed at 
hand. France was tired of wars, and so was Na-po-le-on. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON 



But he must give up France to the Al-h'es, or fight on. 
His plans were soon formed. He turned back from 
the Eng-hsh troops that were in flight, and left them 
to Mar-shal Soult and his men. They cast down all 
chat could stay them in their flight. Casks of coin were 
hurled down the rocks, and the French picked up gold 
by the hands full. As fast as a horse gave out the men 
shot it to keep it from the hands of the foe. Sir John 

Moore, who led the Enpf- 
lish in this great flight, 
fell, struck by a ball. They 
wrapped him in the cloak 
that was stained by his 
blood, and made him a 
grave in haste, by night. 
He was a brave man, and 
there are some fine lines 
on his death. There was 
no time then for the Eng- 
lish to carve a line or hew 
a stone to show where this 
brave man was laid, but the French did the work for 
them, in the days to come, and raised a stone to mark 
the spot where he fell. 




BU-RI-AL OF SIR JOHN MOORE. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON 



Na-po-le-on turned his mind first to Spain. He 
wrote to Jo-seph, "Be at the same time just and strong. 
Make them fear you first, and then make them love you." 
He marched at once on to Spain, and took all their 
strong posts by the way. The Span-i-ards fought in 
the streets, from the roofs, from all nooks where they 
could hide, and such scenes of woe have not oft been 
seen. But Na-po-le-on won at last, and Jo-seph went 
back to Mad-rid, while bells rung and guns were fired. 
But the great mass of the Span-i-ards v/ere cold to him. 
Na-po-le-on found now that Aus-tri-a had gone to work 
to raise troops. In Aus-tri-a and Rus-sia the cry went 
forth : " We wage no war on France, but on this man 
who has seized its throne and crown." 

He soon heard that the Aus-tri-ans had marched to 
Ba-va-ri-a, and that the king had fled. The Aus-tri-an 
camp was at a place named Eck-muhl, where they had 
a great force. Na-po-le-on, in a swift march, came to 
the place at night. The dawn came with a dense fog, 
but the mild, warm sun, of an A-pril day, soon rose and 
the mist fled. The scene was a fair one, a green vale 
spread out, dotted here and there with the white tents 
of the Aus-tri-ans. A stream wound through it, fringed 
with trees and shrubs. 



82 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON, 



The foes now met, and a fire that shook the hills 
burst forth. Horse and men fell, but the troops plunged 
on. All day long the fight raged. The sun went 
down, and still it did not end. At length the Aus-tri- 
ans had lost two-thirds of their men, and a tramp of 
steeds was heard, that seemed to shake the earth, as they 
broke and f^ed. A wild shout for Na-po-le-on burst 
from the lips of the French. The fight of Eck-muhl 
was won, 20th of April, 1809. Heaps of dead were left 
on the field, and all the spoils fell in Na-po-le-on's 
hands. The Aus-tri-ans reached the town of Rat-is-bon, 
and went in and closed its gates. Then they lined the 
walls with their troops, but Na-po-le-on soon had his 

guns in place, so that they 




NA-PO-LE-ON WOUND-ED AT RAT-IS-BON. 



rained down balls on the 
masses in the streets, or on 
the bridge. A breach was 
soon made in the walls, and 
the French rushed in the 
town. A hand-to-hand fight 
took place with great loss. 
Na-po-le-on was struck by 
a ball on the foot. He was 
quite cool, and got down 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 83 



from his horse, and had the wound dressed on the spot 
His men heard of the wound, and rushed to his side 
thrilled with fear for their brave chief Na-po-le-on felt 
their love for him. He smiled and shook hands with all 
in his reach, and showed them that he was not ill. As 
soon as he could, he was on his horse once more. 
When he rode through the lines, a great shout of joy 
went up on all sides. 

The loss to the Aus-tri-ans was so great that they 
sought to hide in the passes of the hills from the French. 
A large part of Rat-is-bon had been burnt. It was 
owned by the King of Ba-va-ri-a, who was a friend of 
Na-po-le-on's ; so he built the town up the same as it 
had been, and paid all the cost. Then he pressed on to 
Vi-en-na with his troops, and there was more than one 
fight on the way, but at last they came in sight of the 
town. Vi-en-na is built on a small branch of the Dan- 
ube, some two miles from the main stream. It has a 
wall round it of strong brick work, and a walk one- 
fourth of a mile in width, set out with trees, runs all 
round the town on top of this wall. Na-po-le-on set 
his guns, where a hot fire could be sent in the town. 
Then he sent a flag of truce, but the one who bore it 
was killed. Then his fire broke forth. For ten hours 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



it fell on the crowded town, and shells crashed through 
the roofs of their homes. Flames burst from all parts 
of the place, and in the midst of all this, a flag of truce 
was sent out from the Aus-tri-ans. Na-po-le--on was 
told that a young girl, the child of the Em-per-or Fran- 
cis, lay sick where his shot and shell fell fast. At once 
he had the guns changed. Strange to say, this young 
girl, Ma-ri-a Lou-ise, came to be in time, the wife of 
Na-po-le-on. At last, the town came to terms. Na-po- 
le-on did not make hard ones. In one month from the 
time he left Par-is, he was in the home of the Aus-tri-an 
Em-per-or. He found bread for those who were half- 
starved, and brought in loads of grain, so that the 
poor folks should not pay too much for their food. 
But though he had won in the face of such great odds, 
he was still in a hard place. He heard that the Em- 
per-or of Rus-sia had grown cold to him. Prus-sia 
was pledged not to draw a sword with his foes, but the 
Prus-sians were not his friends at heart. At last one of 
their chiefs marched out at the head of his troops, and 
called on all to join him in war on France. Hosts of 
men flocked to him. Eng-land, at the same time, sent 
troops in to Hol-land to seize a great place where guns 
were made. The Arch-duke Charles of Aus-tri-a had 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 85 

marched down the left bank of the Dan-ube. From all 
parts hosts came to join him. The French were on the 
right bank of the stream, which was swelled with melt-ed 
snow. How could Na-po-le-on cross such a flood with 
his troops. A short way down, the stream spread out in 
to a bay, and there was an isle there named Lau-ban. In 
the night, Na-po-le-on had a bridge made that could 
float. Boats were put in place to hold planks, so that 
troops could march on them. The stream rose and 
swept the bridge loose, but there were men set to mend 
it, and the troops went on. The Aus-tri-ans sent out 
large boats filled with stones and mills, which had been 
swept loose from the flood. These last they set on fire, 
and they were hurled on the bridge of the French. All 
nightlong, Na-po-le-on urged on the march of his troops 
on this bridge. At dawn the fight went on. The brave 
Lannes dashed on at the head of his men. The great 
Arch-duke Charles seized a flag, and rushed to the 
head of his troops. It was in vain. The Aus-tri-ans 
lost, and cries of joy came from the French lines. But 
just then the news came, that the flood had swept the 
bridge off The Dan-ube cut the French force in two. 
The Aus-tri-ans heard the news. They stopped their 
flig^htwith shouts of joy, and turned back on the French. 



86 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



The brave Lannes, while his ranks were plowed with 
shot and shell, moved back with slow steps. He was 
struck by a ball that took ojFT both his legs. When 
Na-po-le-on heard this sad news he rushed to the side 
of his friend, fell on his knees by the rude couch on 
which they bore him, and clasped his hand: "Lannes," 
he cried, with tears, "do you not know me. It is the 
Em-per-or — it is your friend. Oh, Lannes, you will be 
saved to us." 

Lannes raised his eyes to Na-po-le-on, and pressed his 
- ^-^1 -.'^. hand: "I wish to live to 

serve you and France," 
he said, " but I must die. 
In an hour you will have 
lost your best friend. May 
you live to save the troops 
of France." 

Na-po-le-on broke down 
with his grief, but there 
was no time to mourn. 
The fiorht still rao-ed. He 
could but press the hand 
of his dear friend, and say, " good bye." 

Mas-se-na was one of Na-po-le-on's brave chiefs. He 




DEATH OF LANNES. 



LIFE OF NAP OLE OX. 87 

led on his troops through smoke and flame. The fight 
went on night and day. Heaps of dead were strewn 
on the plains. It was now night Black clouds were 
in the sky, and the rain drenched the troops. Na-po- 
le-on crossed the isle, and looked at the wild flood that 
had swept ofl" his bridge. His heart did not fail. He 
sent for Gen-er-al Mas-se-na, and some more of his 
brave troops, and made a speech to them that thrilled 
their hearts. " Mas-se-na and Da-voust," he said, as he 
turned to them, "you live, you can save the troops." 

Mas-se-na grasped the Em-per-or's hand. " You are 
a brave man, sire," he cried. " We will not fly. Let 
us cross the small branch of the Dan-ube, and I pledge 
my word to drown in it each foe that tries to take me." 

Na-po-le-on, in the dead of night, crossed the flood in 
a frail skiff, and then from a small town he sent back 
food, and wine, and all things he could get for the troops 
on the isle. In the night, Mas-se-na sent his men by 
the small bridge. He was the last one to cross. He 
did not leave till he was sure there was not one man 
or horse left. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



CHAPTER IX. 

HE PARTS WITH JO-SE-PHINE. 

The 4th of Ju-ly, 1809, was dark with storm. As 
night came on the gloom grew, rain fell in sheets. 
At the call of Na-po-le-on his whole force fell on the 
Aus-tri-ans at all points at once. The glare of bombs 
and shells lit the scene, and the sound of guns rent 
the air. At dawn the sky cleared. The sun beams 
smote the steel of arms, that gleamed in its rays, and 
touched the plumes, and flags, and the bright hued dress 
of the troops. It was a grand scene, but the clash of 
arms, the shrieks and cries of the wounded, the death 
groans, the tramp of steeds, and the blood stained earth, 
soon changed all to a scene of woe. For nine miles, the 
troops on foot or horse, stood in rank, and fought on still, 
with no more care for the balls, than if they had been snow 
flakes. Mas-se-na was there, though he had a bad wound. 
He urged on his men from his coach, while the balls plowed 
the ground round him. Na-po-le-on rode through the 
lines on a horse as white as snow. Shots flew all round 
him. Mac-don-ald, a brave chief, made the grand charge 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON 



of the day, on the left wing of the Aus-tri-ans, but his 
loss was great. His guns were wrecked, but he pushed 
on his men in the face of a fierce fire At each blast 
from the guns of the foe, his ranks would reel back, like 
a strong ship struck by a wave. Then the drums would 
beat a charge, and the voice of Mac-don-ald would cheer 
them, and once more they would go on. It seemed 
that the torn mass must break and fly. The Aus-tri-ans 
stretched out like two walls of fire. No such charge 
has been heard of in the wars of the world. Ten men 
fell for one that was spared in Mac-don-ald's force. The 
Old Guard came to his help at last, and soon the ranks 
of the Aus-tri-ans were pierced, and the day was won. 

The Arch-duke Charles fled. He left the great part 
of his force dead, or stretched on the plains with wounds, 
or in the hands of the French. Aus-tri-a was once more 
at the feet of Na-po-le-on. This was the great fight of 
Wag-ram. 

The Aus-tri-ans saw that they must come to terms. 
Once more peace was made, but Aus-tri-a did not mean 
to keep it. Still Na-po-le-on thought they did, and he 
was full of joy. Bells were rung, and guns fired. 

As he left Vi-en-na, he gave word that the mines he 
had laid should be fired, so as to blow up the strong 



90 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON, 




BLOW-ING UP THE WALLS OF VI-EN-NA. 



forts round the walls of 
the town. These walls 
were the pride of the. town 
folks, who loved to walk on 
the top of them, where 
trees were set out. To 
see them raised in the air, 
and the fire run through 
them with its roar, and the 
strong forts fall in heaps 
of stone, was a sad sight. 
That this should be done 
in cold blood, when peace had been signed, was thought 
by the Aus-tri-ans to show that Na-po-le-on had no 
kind thoughts for them. 

All this time, war raged in Spain. The Eng-lish 
helped the Span-iards in their fight with their king. Jo- 
seph Bo-na-parte was one of the best of men, but he 
did not know how to deal with war. That great chief, 
the Duke of Wel-ling-ton, was at the head of the 
Eng-lish troops. He had hard work to tame his men, 
for they were like a mob, and robbed right and left. 
Na-po-le-on marched his troops to It-a-ly, and claimed 
that the States of the Church were part of the realm 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 91 

of France. Then the Pope sent out a law that was called 
a bull, to say that he had put the ban on Na-po-le-on, 
and he must be cast out of the Church. A large part 
of the I-tal-ians longed to be free of the Pope's rule, and 
they hailed Na-po-le-on with joy. 

We have come now to a sad part of this great man's 
life, for we must tell of the time when it seemed best to 
him, to break the bonds that held him to his good wife, 
Jo-se-phine. He had said she was the star of his life, 
and it seemed to be true, for when she was gone, fate 
seemed to smile on him no more. 

By some it is said that Na-po-le-on wished to wed 
one who had the blood of kings in her veins, and for 
this cause he gave up the fond wife who had been his 
best friend for years. It may be true that he thought 
if he took a wife from the great line of the Aus-tri-an 
kings, he would make his own throne more strong, and 
put an end to the long wars with that land. The 
French, too, wished for an heir to the throne. 

He thought of all this for a long time, but said no 
word to Jo-se-phine. At last the sad news had to be 
told to her. It was the last day of No-vem-ber, 1809. 
The Em-press had heard that there was some talk of 
this kind, with a heart full of grief Na-po-le-on had a 



92 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



dread of her tears, but he felt that he must speak to 
her at last. Jo-se-phine had wept for hours in her own 
room. When they met to dine, she was pale as death, 
and they were too sad to speak a word. Jo-se-phine 
sat still as if carved in stone. At last Na-po-le-on rose 
and closed the door. He, too, had grown pale, and his 
voice shook as he spoke. He went to the Em-press, 
took her hand, and placed it on his heart. "Jo-se-phine," 
he said, " my good Jo-se-phine, you know how I have 
loved you. It is to you I owe the few hours of joy I 
have known in this world. Jo-se-phine, my fate is more 
strong than my will. I must yield to the will of France." 

This sad blow, as he 
feared, pierced her heart. 
She fell in a dead faint 
on the floor. Na-po-le- 
on, in a fright, rushed to 
the door and called for 
help. Some one came, 
and they bore Jo-se-phine 
up a flight of stairs to her 

room. 

She was placed on a 
NA-PO-LE-ON PART-iNG WITH JO-SE-PHINE. bcd, and hc rang for her 




LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 93 

maids. As Na-po-le-on stood by her in deep grief, she 
cried out to him : " Oh, no, no," she said, " you will not 
do it ! You do not wish to kill me." 

The Em-per-or went to his own room, and paced the 
floor all night. His eyes were full of tears, and those 
who were near heard him say : " For the sake of France 
I must not shrink, yet it wrings my heart. Such a scene 
as I have just gone through cuts me to the soul. I 
thought she would be more firm. I did not look for 
such wild grief" Each hour of the night he went to 
his wife's door to see how she was. Hor-tense was with 
her. She told the Em-per-or, in sad tones, that the Em- 
press would do his will, and that she and Eu-gene would 
leave all and go with her. They wished to spend the 
rest of their days with her, and hoped their love would 
be some balm for her deep grief. 

The Em-per-or wept. " Do not leave me, Hor-tense," 
he said, "but stay by me with Eu-gene. Help me to 
calm her, and make her my friend still, though she 
should cease to be my wife." 

Eu-gene came. Na-po-le-on was fond of him and 
Hor-tense, but now they both turned from him. The 
grief of Jo-se-phine cut them to the heart, and they 
could not love the man who had wronged her. 



94 LIFE OF NAPOLEON, 

" I will serve this man no more," cried Eu-gene. 
When Na-po-le-on sought to grasp his hand, he drew 
back. 

"Is it true, sire," he asked, "that you mean to cast 
off your wife, the Em-press?" 

Na-po-le-on could not speak, but he bowed his head. 

" In that case, I must ask you to let me leave your 
troops. I can not serve you more." 

" What." cried Na-po-le-on, " will you, who have been 
like my own son, leave me?" 

' " Yes, sire," said Eu-gene, " the son of her who is no 
more your Em-press, has no place here. I will go with 
her. Hor-tense and I must mourn with her." 

The Em-per-or plead with Eu-gene, with tears, and 
Jo-se-phine, too, begged him still to serve Na-po-le-on. 
"He has been a good friend to you," she said, "and 
you owe all to him." Na-po-le-on talked to Eu-gene till 
he made his act seem right to the son of her he meant 
to put from him. 

The sad day came. In the grand room, of the proud 
home of the kings of France, the chief men met with 
the Em-per-or and Jo-se-phine. Na-po-le-on, with a 
pale face but a firm voice, spoke to them. He told them 
of his grief, but he thought the step he was to take 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 95 

was for the best good of France. He had no cause 
for blame, nought but words of praise to speak of his 
good wife. " She was crowned by my hand ! She 
must keep the name and rank of Em-press. More than 
all, let her not doubt my love, but think of me as her 
best friend." 

Jo-se-phine held in her hand some lines that she strove 
to read, but sobs choked her voice. 

One who stood near, read for her. She gave up to 
the Em-per-or's will, and "Thus," she said, "I give him 
the best proof of my love. The Em-per-or will at all 
times find in me his best friend. I know how this act 
has rent his heart, but we both wish to yield up our 
own wills for the good of France." 

All who heard these words, by which Jo-se-phine 
gave up what was most dear to her, were moved to 
tears. 

Na-po-le-on led her to her own room, and left her to 
the kind care of Eu-gene and Hor-tense. 

The next day, the act to part the Em-per-or from 
Jo-se-phine was signed. Na-po-le-on, in his robes of 
state, pale and worn with care, stood with his eyes fixed 
in gloom. It was a sad scene. It seemed as though 
they had met to mourn the dead. 



96 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

Through a side-door came Jo-se-phine. Her face 
was as white as the robe she wore. She leant on the 
arm of Hor-tense, who sobbed all the time. As the 
Em-press came in all rose, in tears ! With the grace 
that marked her at all times, Jo-se-phine moved to a 
seat. She leant her pale brow on her hand, while the 
act was read. Eu-gene stood by her, but he shook like 
a leaf 

When the act was read, Jo-se-phine rose, and in a 
clear voice took the oath, that was to break the tie, which 
bound her to Na-po-le-on. Then she sat down and 
signed the deed, that was to part her from the one her 
heart held most dear in the world. 

Eu-gene's strength gave way. His brain reeled, nis 
heart ceased to beat, and he fell in a swoon on the floor. 
He was borne out, and Jo-se-phine and Hor-tense went 
with him. 

Night came on, a night of gloom. Jo-se-phine wept 
in her room, but at last could bear it no more. She 
sought the Em-per-or, and wept in his arms. He, too, 
shed tears, and told her his love for her would last as 
long as his life. 

There was . a grand place called Mal-mai-son, near 
Paris, where the Em-per-or and Em-press had spent 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



97 



some of the most bright days of their hves. Na-po- 
le-on gave this place to Jo-se-phine to be her home, and 
she had a large sum to spend each year. 

All those who had served her were on hand, to see 
her leave the home she had graced so long. She was 
veiled from head to foot. As she came down the grand 
stairs, she waived her hand to the friends who stood 
there in a crowd, for she could not speak. Then she 
was borne away, and she saw her old home no more. 

Na-po-le-on wrote to her, and begged her to take 
care of her health. He called to see her, told her of 
his plans, while they walked through the fair grounds 
of Mal-mai-son. He sought to do all he could to soothe 
her grief He thought that what he had done was for 
the best, but time proved that from the hour he gave up 
Jo-se-phine his luck changed. It was, as he had said : 
" his star rose and set with her." 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON, 



CHAPTER X. 

ONTOMOS-COW. 

Three months passed, and the talk of all was the 
choice for a new bride for Na-po-le-on. The young 
Ma-ri-a Lou-i-sa of Aus-tri-a was the one fixed on to 
be the next Em-press of the French. She was a blonde, 
her form was fine, and the bloom of youth was on her 
cheek. When she first knew that she was to wed Na- 
po-le-on, she was In a great fright. She had heard of 
him as a fierce man. who loved to fight and wade through 
seas of gore. When she spoke of this, they told her, 
" That was all true when he was our foe, but now he 
will be our friend." 

To show how they looked on Na-po-le-on in the court 
of Aus-tri-a, it is cold that one of the Em-per-or's boys 
used to burn his dolls now and then, as he would say: 
"Now I will roast Na-po-le-on!" 

When Ma-ri-a Lou-i-sa was wed to Na-po-le-on, this 
child told him: "I will roast you no more, for I love 
you too much. You give Ma-ri-a Lou-i-sa so much gold 
to buy me toys." 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 99 

When Na-po-le-on rode with his bride through the 
streets of Par-is, there was one great shout of joy. The 
bells rang, shots were fired, and flags waved in the air. 

Jo-se-phine wrote to the Em-per-or, and wished him 
joy, though her heart was wrung at the thoughts of this 
new bride. 

Na-po-le-on wished for no more war. He was now 
bound by his new wife to one of the great thrones of 
Eu-rope, and he hoped for peace. But Eng-land, with 
her fleet, would not let him rest. She was on hand 
where a shot or shell could be thrown. She used her 
gold to make foes for him on this side and on that. 
She fanned the fire of war that had gone out, till it 
blazed once more. 

For this course on the part of Eng-land, Na-po-le-on 
made up his mind to keep out the trade of that land, 
and close all his ports to her goods. He had placed 
Lou-is Bo-na-parte on the throne of Hol-land, and he 
called on him to put this law in force. But he did not, 
so that Eng-lish goods were sent to all the ports of Hol- 
land, and from them found their way to all parts of Eu- 
rope, though Lou-is had pledged his word that it should 
not be so. Na-po-le-on wrote to him, and told him that 
Hol-land was bound to France, that he had set him on 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



the throne of Hol-land, and hoped to find him a friend. 
"They who do not love France, do not love me," he 
said. 

Lou-is took this ill. He wished to do as he chose, 
and trade with Eng-land, At last he gave up his throne 
and left Hol-land. He was in ill health, and his wife, 
Hor-tense, whom he loved, had left him. 

Na-po-le-on felt great grief at the flight of Lou-is. 
He thought that if Hor-tense had done right, she would 
have gone to Hol-land, with Lou-is, but she chose to 
stay in Par-is. 

On the 19th of March, 181 1, a son was born to Na- 
po-le-on. The guns boomed, and all the folk went to 
work to count the times they were fired. For if they 
went up to five score, it would show that a prince was 
born. Great throngs stood still in the street, and when 
they knew that the babe was a boy, a roar of cheers 
went up from the throats of the vast crowd. The child 
was called the King of Rome. No one who heard the 
joy with which the birth of this babe was hailed, could 
have dreamed that he would live his life far from the 
fair realm of France, and die at last in a strange land. 

The bells rang out the glad news of this birth, and 
joy filled all France. Jo-se-phine heard it, and wrote 



LIFE OF XAPOLEOX. 



some kind words to Na-po-le-on. She said: " It is from 
you I wish to know if your child is well, if he looks like 
you, and if I may, one day, hope to meet him ? " 

She had just sent off this note when one came to her 
from Na-po-le-on. She wept as she read it, for he wrote: 
" This child, with oicr Eu-gene, will be my hope, and 
that of France." 

Jo-se-phine said, with tears, "What could soothe my 
heart like this? You see, he blends t/ie name of my son 
with his own. It is this that has so much moved me." 

Na-po-le-on wished Jo-se-phine to see his babe, and 
formed a plan, at last, by which he could show him to 
her. Ma-ri-a Lou-is-a had no love for the first wife, and 
did all she could to keep Na-po-le-on from her. She 
told him, that if he must go and see Jo-se-phine, she 
did not wish to know it. 

The child brought great joy to the heart of Na-po- 
le-on. He watched him day by day, and loved to guide 
his first steps. He chose Mad-ame Mon-tes-quieu to 
teach the boy. The rooms, where the young King of 
Rome spent his time, were on the ground floor, and 
looked out on the courts of the Tuil-er-ies. At all 
hours of the day, those who passed could look in and 
see the boy. One day, when he was in a rage, and 



LIFE OF NAP OLE OX 



would not do as he was told, Mad-ame shut up the 
rooms, and he found, all at once, that he was in the 
dark. " What does this mean?" he cried. " I love you 
too well," she said, " to let the crowd see you in this 
state. You will, one day, be called to rule all these 
folks. Do you think they would mind you if they saw 
you in such a fit of rage?" 

The child seemed to see the good sense of this. He 
begged her to let in the light, and said he would be 
good once more. 

When Na-po-le-on was far from his dear France, on 
the lone Isle of St. He-le-na, he used to say, "Ah, if 
I had my boy at my side, this bare rock would seem 
like home. How it would cheer rrie to watch his growth, 
to see his sports, and guide his mind." 

Em-per-or Al-ex-an-der, of Rus-sia, had grown cool 
to Na-po-le-on. He wished the Em-per-or to give his 
word that Po-land should not be made free. Rus-sia 
and Prus-sia had shared the land of Po-land, and sent 
their own men to rule the Po-lish folk. Na-po-le-on 
would not put his seal to an act that Po-land should 
not be free, and so Rus-sia, once more, raised the cry 
of war. Na-po-le-on did all he could for peace. Eng- 
land, with her fleet, was queen of the sea. So Na-po- 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON 



103 



le-on had to gird up his strength for war once more. 
He must fight Eng-land on the sea, Rus-sia on the 
North, and Spain in the South. He called all his 
fi-iends to help, Prus-sia, Aus-tri-a, It-a-ly, Sax-o-ny. 
They came at his word, a great force. The day was 
bright, the fields were green, the skies were blue, as 
they set out on their march. The sun shone on long 
lines of men. The bright flags, the flash of steel, the 
tramp of steeds, the beat of drums, made a gay scene. 
The Em-per-or of Rus-sia saw that his troops could 
not face such a force. He sent his men word to march 
back, but to leave nought for the foe, to tear down 
bridges, and burn towns and stores of food, so that 
the French should be left in a strange land to starve. 
Na-po-le-on urged his troops on. They had streams 
to ford, and bridges to build, but nought stopped him. 
He reached that part of Po-land which Rus-sia owned, 
and the Po-lish young men on all sides rose up and 
hailed him as their friend. They begged Na-po-le-on 
to free them from the Rus-sian yoke. Crowds of them 
joined his troops. The Rus-sians were still in flight. 
Na-po-le-on did not know where to find the foe. He 
was in a strange land, with no food. His men died by 
the scores. The horses fell sick. There seemed nought 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



to do but march on to 
Mos-cow. There, he 
thought, they must find 
food and rest. He did 
not dream that Al-ex- 
an-der would set fire to 
that great town, with 
its grand houses, and 
hosts of men. But the 
Em-per-or of Rus-sia 
had all things in train 
to burn Mos-cow, if the 
French should take it. 
Na-po-le-on took up the 
march. His men were weak from want of food, but they 
pressed on with brave hearts. They had one fight near 
the walls of Mos-cow. The night was cold and dark. 
The fires of the Rus-sian camp could be seen for miles. 
Na-po-le-on pitched his tent in the midst of the squares 
of the Old Guard. He feared a new flight of the Rus- 
sians, and he would not sleep. He grew ill, and his head 
throbbed with pain, but as soon as light came, he was 
at the head of his troops. The sun rose, and cheers 
rang out from the French lines. The first fire came 




THE MARCH TO MOS-COW. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



105 



from the Rus-slan troops, and then a loud peal burst 
forth on the plain. Gen-er-al Da-voust was struck 
down from his horse, and word was brought to Na- 
po-le-on that he was dead. When he heard that the 
great chief was once more at the head of his troops, 
on a new horse, he cried, " God be praised." 

All day long the tide of fight rolled on, but Na-po- 
le-on kept back his guard till the last, so that he might 
have a fresh force to strike a blow when the right time- 
came. 

The French won as the sun went down. The Rus- 
sians moved back, but fought each inch of ground. 
Na-po-le-on's soul was full of gloom, though he had 
won the day. The loss of life on both sides was great. 
More than two score of his great chiefs had been killed 
or wounded. 

This fight of Bor-o-di-no filled all the land of France 
with grief for the dead. 

The Rus-sians fled to Mos-cow. They tore down 
bridges, and burnt all in their way. For a week the 
French, worn and sick, marched on, with the hope that 
they would find food at Mos-cow. As they drew near 
the town, all was still, not a sound was heard. They 
found that all had fled, but a few wretches left to set fire 



io6 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



to the place. Na-po-le-on 
did not know the plot 
that had been laid, to 
put an end to him and 
his troops. Shells had 
been hid in places where 
they would burst, as the 
flames reached them, and 
blow up all in their reach. 
Mines were laid 'neath 
the Krem-lin, where Na- 
po-le-on and his staff 
were lodged. The founts 
had been filled up so that there was no drink, or means 
to put out a fire. 

The French knew nought of all this. The houses 
were all of wood, and a drought had made them dry. 
Na-po-le-on was weighed down with a gloom that he 
could not shake off, but, at last, worn out and weak, he 
went to bed. All at once the cry of " Fire," rang 
through the streets. Far off in the east, great waves of 
smoke, pierced with flame, were to be seen. Then came 
the burst of shells, and the earth heaved, and houses 
were thrown up in the air. The flames swept on all 




THE BAT-TLE OF BOR-0-DI-NA. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEOX 



107 



sides. Mines were sprung, shells burst, guns went off, 
the earth quaked, the whole town was wrapped in a 
robe of fire. Men were choked with smoke, sinsfed with 
flame, and ran here and there in the strange streets, lost 
in a town they did not know. At last the Krem-lin 
took fire. There was a ring of flame round it, so that 
it was hard to find a way out. Na-po-le-on and his 
friends found at last "a small street through which they 
toiled, blinded and choked with heat and smoke. Once 
their guide missed his way, and they gave up for lost, 
but Na-po-le-on was calm. They made their way at 
last out of the doomed town. The fire raged on, till 
nought was left to burn. All the great houses, full of 
works of art, all that wealth could crowd in them, all 
the rich stores of past times, were burnt. Rich shawls 
and furs, pearls and gems, were strown on the ground, 
but the troops were sick for food. Horse flesh and 
black bread were all they could find to eat. The men 
lost heart. They were in the heart of the land of the 
foe, far from help, and soon the cold winds would sweep 
the plains. There was a class of men in Rus-sia called 
serfs. They were like slaves, and had to do their lords' 
will. These men would have joined Na-po-le-on, and 
turned on their lords, if he had let them. But he knew 



io8 LIFE OF NAPOLEON, 

that this would flood the land with blood. He hoped 
still to make the Em-per-or of Rus-sia once more his 
friend. The French troops stayed four weeks in Mos- 
cow. They could not live there, and Na-po-le-on made 
up his mind to go to Po-land, where he would find 
friends and food. 



CHAPTER XI. 



HIS STAR GROWS DIM. 

Na-po-le-on had to choose a new route of march. 
He heard that the Rus-sians had a great host, in the 
passes through which he must force his way. Bands 
of men, called Cos-sacks, were hid, where they could 
rush out on his troops like a pack of wolves. With a 
sad heart, Na-po-le-on made up his mind, that the Rus- 
sians in these passes, were too strong for him, and that 
he must turn his back on them. This was the first of 
a lone list of woes. The Rus-sians heard that the 
French were in flight, and they were mad with joy. 
Then came scenes of woe that pen can not tell. The 
snow was strewn with the dead for miles, left for wolves 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON 



109 



to eat. The cold blasts swept from the hills, and drove 
the sleet In the faces of the men. Their clothes were 
thin, and their limbs were chilled. They could not 
keep their ranks. Scores fell, and could not rise. Soon 
a sheet of snow dropped on them, and small, white 
mounds marked their cold graves. 




THE RE-TREAT FROM MOS-COW. 



To add to the woe of the scene, troops of Cos-sacks 
came down on them. They slashed men with their 
swords, as they reeled in the snow. They stripped their 
clothes from them, and left them to freeze. 

Night came on. Oh, what a night! There was no 
dry wood to make a fire, and a wild waste of snow 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



stretched round them on all sides. The storm ragged 
on. The poor men were so worn out, that they lay 
down in the drifts of snow, and scores of them froze 
to death. Horses were killed, so that the men might 
drink the warm blood, and gain some strength. 

The light of dawn showed rows of white mounds, 
where brave men lay cold in death. Mar-shal Ney, 
with his men, kept at the rear of the troops, and fought 
each mile of the road. Now and then he would turn 
back, and plunge in the dense mass of the foe, with his 
men, in a way that has won him fame for all time. He 
did his best to keep back the Rus-sians, who were close 
in the rear of the French troops 

On the 29th of No-vem-ber, Na-po-le-on reached 
Smo-lensk. He had hoped to find food and clothes 
for his troops, but things were in a sad state. There 
was some food, but Na-po-le-on sent it to Ney and his 
men, for he said, " Those who have to fight must eat 
first." At the same time he sent word to Ney to stop 
the march of the Rus-sians, if he could, so that the 
troops might have time to rest. 

The brave Ney faced the foe at once. He seized a 
gun and fought in the ranks. He moved his small force 
with such skill, that he kept the Rus-sians back a whole 



LIFE OF XA POLE OX. iii 

day, and gave Na-po-le-on's troops that much time to 
rest. 

Just as the Em-per-or reached Smo-lensk, he heard 
bad news from Par-is. A band of men had been 
formed, who wished to put on the throne one of the 
old Hne of kings. Na-po-le-on felt that he must get 
to Par-is as soon as he could, to put down this plot, and 
to get men and gold to go on with the war. 

Na-po-le-on with his men stayed in Smo-lensk five 
days. He heard sad news from Ney and Eu-gene. 
Swarms of Cos-sacks prowled round them, and fought 
them, in flank and rear, then took to the woods to hide. 

In the dim light one cold, dark day, the French troops 
left Smo-lensk. There had been such great loss, that 
there was but a small force. The roads were smooth with 
ice. The horses, whose shoes were worn smooth, slipped 
and fell. The men had to drag the great guns up the 
hills. At times, men, guns and horses, rolled down the 
steep sides of the hills in the dark. Then the grape 
shot of the foe would plow their ranks. The days were 
short, the nights long and drear. The first day they 
gained but few miles. The Rus-sians were well clothed, 
and well armed, and they gained the heights, and set 
their guns in place to stop the march of the French. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



But the Guard swept them back, and marched on while 
a rain of balls fell on them. 

Eu-gene, with his men, was some miles in the rear, 
and the Rus-sians planted their troops in his road, and 
said he must yield. The French were few, but brave. 
They formed a square, and tried to cut their way 
through the Rus-sian ranks. The fire of the foe poured 
in on them, and the ground was strewn with the dead. 
Night, cold, long and dark, came to Eu-gene's aid. He 
left the camp fires still in a blaze, to make the Rus-sians 
think he was there. Then, with the few men left to 
him, he crept through the fields in the dark, and made 
his way to a safe place. Once the moon burst from the 
clouds, and the Rus-sian guard saw the band in flight. 
But a Pole, a friend to the French, saved them. He 
spoke to the guard in Rus-sian, and led him to think 
that the men were some Rus-sian troops. In this way, 
Eu-gene, at last, reached the Em-per-or. Na-po-le-on 
now waited for Ney. For two days his small band 
stood on the plain, while the troops of the foe held the 
heights on each side of them. He made up his mind, 
at last, to go back and find Ney and his men. It was 
a bold move. With so small a force, to turn back, brave 
the great host of foes, face the cold blasts, the ice bound 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



113 



roads, and fight his way back through the wilds of 
Rus-sia, to save Ney, showed how true Na-po-le-on was 
to his friends. 

The Em-per-or, at the head of his guards, marched 
straight on the foe, and stood their fire. At last, Da- 
voust forced his way to his aid, and the two bands met. 
Na-po-le-on asked for Ney. He had not been heard 
from. It was thought he was lost. 

Still Na-po-le-on did not wish to go. He could not 
bear the thouQrht that he must leave his brave friend in 
the hands of the foe. But there seemed no help for it. 
If they lost more time, the Rus-sians would cut them 
off. He left Da-voust to hold the foe in check, while 
he left the field. 

With a beech stick in his hand, he toiled on foot. 
He felt deep grief for the lost Ney. He spoke of his 
brave fights, and his true heart. The night came on, 
but he did not sleep. They heard him say, " The state 
of my poor men cuts me to the heart. Yet, I can not 
help them till I am fixed in some place. I must reach 
Minsk as soon as I can." 

Just as he said these words, a man rushed in, and 
told him that Minsk, with all its store of food and arms, 
was in the hands of the foe. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



For a while Na-po-le-on could not speak, the blow 
was so great. Then he said, " All that is left us now, is 
to force our way on." So they set out on that dread 
march, which was marked by a trail of the dead. The 
men were in rags, or wrapt in horse skins. The cold 
was so great, that they froze while they starved. H.orses 
and men died by scores each night. Yet they were 
brave still, and kept off the hordes of well fed Rus- 
sians in their way. At last they reached Or-cha, a 
town in Po-land, where they found food, and all they 
could need. 

The brave Da-voust was in rags when he reached the 
town. His face was white with frost. He was nought 
but skin and bone, from long fasts and toil. He seized 
a loaf of bread and ate it, like a starved man. 

Na-po-le-on still sought news of Ney. He had not 
been heard from for four days, but they hoped still. All 
at once there came a shout, " Mar-shal Ney is safe!" 
Na-po-le-on sprang from his chair, and seized the man 
who had brought the news, by both arms. 

" Is it true? Are you sure?" he pried. 

Then, in a burst of joy, he cried, " I would give all 
the gold in my vaults in the Tuil-er-ies, to save Mar-shal 
Ney!" 



LIFE OF XAPOLEOX. 115 

It was a dark, cold night, but at the word, a band of 
men left the warm fires, and set out to find Ney. They 
marched through ice and snow for six miles. They 
stopped now and then, but no sound of the lost ones 
could be heard. The stream, chill and drear, flowed at 
their side. Dark clumps of pines and firs were round 
them. Eu-gene, who led the men, bade them fire a 
shot. Far off, a faint sound came back to them. Then 
the two corps met. Eu-gene clasped his friend in his 
arms, and wept for joy. 

When Ney once more saw Na-po-le-on, and told him 
all he had passed through, the Em-per-or grasped his 
hand, and called him " the most brave of the brave." 

When Ney had left Smo-lensk, he had few men, but 
when he reached Or-cha, three fourths of them were 
gone. They had traced on the way the sad rout of the 
French, by the dead who lay on the roads. All at once 
the foe sprang on them. A mist hid them from sight, 
till there was nought to do but stop and face them. 
The Rus-sian chief asked for the sword of Ney. He 
knew he had to deal with such a brave man, that he said 
he would not ask such a thing, if there were the least 
hope for the French. Ney might see the great force the 
Rus-sians had, he might send a man through the ranks 



ii6 LIFE OF NAPOLEON, 

and count them. So that he could find there was 
nought for him to do but to give up. Ney said, "A 
Mar-shal of France does not know how to give up." 

While he spoke, scores of guns sent out their load of 
grape shot in to French breasts. The hills that had 
been so cold and dark, seemed all at once to blaze with 
fire. Ney saw that the Rus-sian had told the truth. 
On all sides of him the foe stood rank on rank. They 
were well fed, well clothed, and had a strong place. On 
the French side, were a few half starved men. Some 
had no arms, some were so weak they could scarce hold 
the poor arms they still kept. Yet Ney had no thought 
but to fight to the last, and cut his way through the ranks 
of the foe. He marched at the head of his men, and, 
with his six guns, rushed on a foe that had ten score. 
The odds were too great, and he had to turn back, 
and seek the wilds once more. His men's hearts died 
in them, as they found they must turn their back on 
France, on their Em-per-or, who had gone on, and their 
friends in the ranks. They came to a stream. Ney 
broke the ice, to see which way it ran. " This stream 
shall be our guide," he said, and they toiled on. At a 
bend in the stream, the ice was clogged, so that they 
thought they could cross. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON 117 

Ney, wrapped in his cloak, lay down on the snow, 
and slept, while his men crossed one by one. The ice 
was thin, and bent, and cracked, as they stepped on it. 
Next came the carts, with the stores and the sick. Then 
the frail ice broke, and most of them sunk. The Cos- 
sacks tracked Ney and his men in this flight, and kept 
up a fire on them. 

He pressed on, by day and by night, with no rest, 
till at last the two wrecks of what had been so great a 
force, met at Or-cha. 



CHAPTER XH. 

" FATE MARKS THE FALL OF FRANCE." 

Na-po-le-on left his men in Po-land. He told them 
he would soon come back, at the head of a great force. 

As soon as it was known that the French had been 
forced to leave Rus-sia, new foes rose to fight them. 
Eng-land was full of joy. Prus-sia was glad to have a 
chance to join the foes of Na-po-le-on. The Ger-man 
states were forced to fight France, or see their own 
kings lose their thrones. The King of Sax-o-ny fled,. 



ii8 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

and the Al-lies marched to Dres-den. Na-po-le-on did 
not lose heart. He raised new troops, and met the 
Al-Kes on the plains of Lut-zen. 

His men were, for the most part, young, and full of 
the fire of youth, but they had not been trained like the 
troops he had lost. The foe were old and tried men, 
and felt sure they would win. They rent the air with 
cheers, as they rushed on the raw troops. The Em- 
per-or was calm, though he saw the foe was two to his 
one. He had few horses, while the foe had hosts of 
them. He said, " I have no fear, my men can fight on 
foot. I trust the day to the young men of France." 

The Al-lies sent out such a fire, that they mowed 
down Na-po-le-on's ranks, till they turned and fled. 
The Em-per-or rode through the storm of balls to 
cheer them. When he was seen, shouts went up for 
him. For eight hours the fight raged. Then the 
Guard, who had been kept back till the last, was 
brought forth. They seemed lost in clouds of dust 
and smoke, as they rushed on the foe. But the flash 
of their guns through the gloom, showed that the foe 
was in flight. The French had won, and Na-po-le-on 
slept on the field of the fight. France was filled with 
joy at the news. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



119 



His foes next made a stand at Baut-zen. Na-po- 
le-on felt, in spite of all he had won, that his star had 
grown dim, and the reins would soon slip from his 
hands. He met the foe at Baut-zen, and once more 
they fled from him, but he still wished, most of all, for 
peace. He tried to see the Em-per-or of Rus-sia, but 
failed. The Al-lies fixed such terms for peace that Na- 
po-le-on felt that they wished to make France weak. 
He knew that he would not gain a real peace if he 
should yield, but that more and more would be asked. 
So no peace was made, and Aus-tri-a joined the band 
of Al-lies to crush Na-po-le-on. Blu-cher, a great and 
brave man, led the troops of Aus-tri-a and Prus-sia. 

They laid siege first to 
Dres-den, with a vast 
force. Sax-o-ny had kept 
friends with the French, 
and when Na-po-le-on and 
his men came, they hailed 
them with joy. But the 
fair town saw scenes of 
woe in the next few days. 
Balls fell like hail on it, 
THE DE-FENCE OF DRES-DEN. slicHs burst, and flamcs 




LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



broke out in all parts of the town. Na-po-le-on took 
the head of his troops. His aids were struck down 
at his side by the shot of the foe. A storm of rain 
came on, and the roar of the guns mixed with the roar 
of the storm. The Em-per-or was wet to the skin. 
He had not slept, and he was quite ill, but still he rode 
here and there to speak words of cheer. 

" I will rest," he said, " when you all can rest, my 
lads, that is, when we have won the fight." 

Night came on, with floods of rain. A cold storm 
swept through the streets. Morn came with wind and 
rain. From the first ray of light the fight raged. Gen- 
er-al Mo-reau, who had once fought on Na-po-le-on's 
side, was now with his foes. He was killed in this fight, 
and his grave was made in that strange land far from 
France. A stone was raised to mark the spot where 
he fell. 

Na-po-le-on lay on a sick bed in Dres-den, when word 
was brought to him of great loss. Gen-er-al Mac-don-ald, 
with his men, had been hemmed in by Blu-cher, in a 
small pass, and forced to yield. Gen-er-al Ney had to 
fly from the foe. Na-po-le-on could not bear such news. 
He rose from his sick bed, and once more took the 
head of his troops. Blu-cher, with his men, marched 



LIFE OF XAPOLEOX. 121 

on Dres-den, but turned and fled when met by the 
French, 

Na-po-le-on held Dres-den still, but each day his 
strength grew less. The gold of Eng-land bought 
some of the men who were not French. Ba-va-ri-a 
was forced to leave, and join the Al-lies. Spite of all, 
Na-po-le-on was not daunted. He had a plan to m.arch 
to Ber-lin, but his chiefs, worn out by toil, urged him to 
give it up. Na-po-le-on heard what they had to say, 
with deep gloom. He felt that there was no way but 
that to give his foes a death blow. He said to a friend, 
"All is lost. It is vain to fight fate. The French know 
not how to bear loss." 

He could not go on if his chiefs were not with him. 
He had to make up his mind to go back to Liep-sic, but 
he felt that France was lost. " Fate," he said, " has 
marked the fall of France." 

Each one of the Al-lies had been in his hand in their 
turn, and he had dealt with them in a kind way. Now 
we will show how they treated him. He asked for a 
short truce, and they did not heed it. He was so ill 
that his friends feared the worst, for he took no rest 
or food. 

When the sun rose, it showed the great host of the 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



Al-lies, as far as the eye could reach. Soon came the 
roar of the fight. The foe had five men to their one. 
Na-po-le-on rode through clouds of smoke, and heaps 
of the slain. He seemed to bear a charmed life. Men 
fell on all sides, but no ball struck him. All at once 
the whole Sax-on corps took their guns with them, and 




DE-SER-TION OF THE SAX-ON CORPS. 



joined the ranks of the foe. Na-po-le-on was stunned 
by the blow. The French were in such a rage at this 
base trick, that they rushed in mad force on the Sax- 
ons with a cry, '* Down with the Sax-ons," and forced 
them to fly. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 123 

Night came, and the troops on both sides were worn 
out. News was brought then to Na-po-le-on that 
his men could not hold out more than two hours, as 
there was nought left with which to load the guns. 
His head fell on his breast. " Is it a dream," he said, 
as if such news could not be true. There was nought 
left but to leave that place as soon as they could. There 
was but one bridge on the stream by which the French 
could cross. The camp fires were kept up to make 
the foe think they were still there. Leip-sic seemed 
doomed. The balls fell thick and fast on it. The Kine 
of Sax-o-ny, still Na-po-le-on's friend, was there. When 
the Em-per-or took his leave of him, he said, " France 
will pay her debt to you some day, my friend." He 
then made his way, with his men, through a small lane 
to the bridge. The balls of the Al-lies rained on them. 
The foe had rushed in to Leip-sic with shouts. The 
plan had been, that when the French had crossed the 
bridge, it should be blown up. The man who was to 
do this, lost his mind, and set the torch to the bridge 
too soon. With a great burst of sound, the bridge, 
with all its load of men, and horses, and guns, was thrown 
in the air. By this, half the troops were cut off, and 
left in the hands of the foe. They fled here and there. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



Mac-don-ald plunged in the stream on his horse, and 
swam to the shore. 

Na-po-le-on, with what was left of his men, made his 
way to Er-furth. Mu-rat, who had fought so well, now 
saw that the cause was lost. Na-po-le-on had set the 
crown of Na-ples on his head, but he did not scorn 
to leave him in his hour of need. He sent word to 
the foe, that if they would pledge their word to keep 
him on his throne, he would join their side, with his 
troops. They did so, and he took his leave, and joined 
the Al-lies. 



CHAPTER XHI. 

PAR- IS GIVES UP THE FIGHT. 

The base act of Mu-rat did not keep the crown on 
his head, as all will be glad to hear. He sold the 
French, but the price was not paid. He left a stain 
on his name for all time to come. Na-po-le-on felt 
that he could not keep his friends now, in the face of 
such a force, as the Al-lles had in their rear. He 
called the Ba-va-ri-an troops that were left, and gave 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



them leave to go to their homes. The Poles said they 
would share his fate. 

At last, with what was left of his troops, he reached 

Par-is. Ma-ri-a Lou-ise 
^-tei^a^ feared to meet him since 
KStrarfL^^^^/A^"^ the Aus-tri-ans had turned 

and joined his foes. 

When the Em-per-or 
entered her room, she 
burst in a flood of tears, 
but he soothed her with 
words of love. Their boy 




NA-PO-LE-ON ON HIS WAY TO PAR-IS. 



was brought in, and Na- 



po-le-on, who still clung to hope, spoke of bright days 
to come. But sad news came, day by day. The French 
troops left here and there to hold places, were forced 
to yield. The Al-lies swarmed on all sides. They 
marched on to the Rhine. They were at the doors of 
France. Na-po-le-on sought to rouse the men in Par-is 
by this news. 

" Why should not the truth be told," he cried. " Wel- 
ling-ton is in France, and ye do not rise. Shame ! All 
must march." 

He longed for peace, but he would not let France 



126 LIFE OF XA POLE ON. 

lose, for the sake of it, all she had gained in the long 
wars. The Al-lies had crossed the Rhine, and Na-po- 
le-on made haste to go out with what force he could 
get, to meet them. It was their plan to march to Par-is. 
They had such hosts of troops, that the French lost 
heart. They begged Na-po-le-on to give up all, and 
make peace on what terms he could. The Al-lies 
asked that France should give up all . that had been 
gained in the wars. But Na-po-le-on would not yield 
yet. He said, " No, no, we must not think of this just 
now. I will beat Blu-cher. Then we will see what 
shall be done." 

His words came true. He did beat Blu-cher, but he 
had not the troops to go on with the work. He rode 
in the thick of the balls, and when his friends begged 
him to take more care of his life, he smiled, and said, 
" Have no fear; the ball which is to kill me is not yet 
cast." 

Na-po-le-on's name was still a great force in the 
land. With his small band, he drove the Al-lies to 
flight. He could say with joy, " I have saved Par-is." 
He had but put off the hour of his doom. 

Once more the Al-lies, with fresh troops, turned their 
march to Par-is. Na-po-le-on made haste with what 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



127 




THE DE-FENCE OF PAR-IS. 



men were left to him, to 
head them off. But the 
Al-Hes were near the town. 
The French sought to keep 
them out, and made a 
brave stand, but their 
ranks were cut to bits, and 
they fled back to the streets 
of the town. They fought 
as they went, step by step. 
The Em-press, with some 
of the chief men, fled to Blois. Her child, but three 
years old, did not wish to go. " No, no," he said, " I 
do not want to leave my home." He was told that it 
was but for a short time, and that they would soon 
bring him back. He went in tears, and that was the 
last he saw of it, or Par-is. 

Na-po-le-on, when he heard that Par-Is had been 
forced to yield, seemed stunned by the blow. Cold 
drops of sweat stood on his brow. He paced the 
ground with quick steps, then cried out " Where is 
my wife? where is my son ? Where is the Guard of 
Par-is, who were to have fought till the last man fell." 
The Al-lies swarmed m the streets of Par-is. There 



128 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

was no hope. Na-po-le-on, in this hour, felt that his 
cause was lost. But the Al-lies sent word that if he 
gave up his crown to his son, there might still be peace. 

" That is to say they will not treat with me," said Na- 
po-le-on. They mean to drive me from my throne." 

He hid his face in his hands. Then he said, " No, 
my brave troops call on me to lead them to Par-is. I 
will do it." But all his chiefs felt that the cause was 
lost. They were not with him, and he gave up the 
plan. He was calm and firm, but great grief was in 
his heart. He wrote down, with his own hand, that 
he would leave France if the throne would be kept for 
his son. " Get the best terms you can for France," he 
said, "as for me, I ask nought." 

By the time this act reached the Al-lies, things had 
changed. Mar-mont, who had charge of the French 
troops at Par-is, had been false to his trust, and led his 
men in the lines of the Al-lies. When they found that 
he gave them up to the foe, a roar of rage went up from 
them. 

The Al-lies were now so strong that they felt no fear, 
and would hear no terms. They asked that Na-po-le-on 
should give up the throne at once. When this news 
was brought to Na-po-le-on, his pride rose. He called 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 129 

his chiefs, and told them that he would lead them once 
more if their hearts were with him. But they were 
cold. Then he sat down and wrote as the Al-lies 
wished. He gave up the throne of France. That 
part of the French, who wished the old line of kmgs 
brought back, hailed this news with great joy. Na-po- 
le-on was in the hands of the Al-lies, and they fixed his 
fate. He was to be sent to the Isle of El-ba, which 
should be his own for life. A sum was set, that should 
be his, to keep up his court there. 

When the Em-per-or heard the terms, he seemed 
struck with death. He writhed in pain. Big drops 
oozed from his brow. His eyes grew dull and glazed. 
Groans burst from him that he strove to check in vain. 
He thought the time had come for him to die, and he 
was glad to go. But the pain passed, and he slept. 
When he saw the light of the day, he said, " God 
means that I shall live. I could not die." 

Then he said to a friend, " There have been times in 
the last few days when I thought I should go mad. 
That is past. I will sign the deed." 

Once that was done, Na-po-le-on was in haste to go. 
He could not bear to breathe the air of that France 
which was so dear to him. He knew that hosts of 



130 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



those who had seemed to be his friends, had gone to 
the side of his foes, and his heart was sore. 

His wife did not join him at El-ba. He could not 
see her, or the boy he loved so well. He still thought 
she would come, and spoke of a home in El-ba, where 
he might find some peace with his wife and son. 

He spoke to his troops as he took leave, and to his 
Old Guard. " I leave you," he said. " Grieve not for 
my lot. I would I could press you all to my heart." 

There were loud sobs from some of the men, and a 
moan ran through the ranks. 

Na-po-le-on turned, with bowed head, and tears in his 

eyes. He thought of Jo-se- 
phine in this last hour. He 
wrote to her. Her grief was 
great, and she would have 
been glad to have flown to 
his side. But that was not 
her place now. She was ill, 
too, and four weeks from the 
time Na-po-le-on went to El- 
ba, she died. Her last words 
were " Isle of El-ba. Na-po- 




NA-PO-LE-ON AT EL-BA. 



e-on. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. ' 131 

The Em-per-or's new home was an isle in the sea, ten 
scores of miles from the coast of France. This isle was 
to be his own, his new realm. Mad-ame Bo-na-parte 
and Paul-ine came to share his home. Lou-is XVII. 
was now king of France. He was old, and fat, and had 
the gout, so that he could scarce walk. The mass of 
the Par-is-ians could not bear him. Their name for him 
was "the hog." He gave up all the Al-lies asked, 
and the French felt deep shame, as they thought of all 
they had lost. Na-po-le-on still reigned in their hearts. 
News came to him, that they would rise and hail him 
with joy, if he could come back. He took a day to 
think of it, and then made up his mind to dare all. 

He set off with the men he had in three ships. A 
fine breeze soon blew them to the coast of France. 
When they saw the blue hills of France rise from the 
waves, their joy was great. Shouts went up, and hats 
and caps waved in the air. They reached a lone beach, 
and set out on their march. The news soon spread, 
and men flocked to him. There was a burst of joy 
from all sides. With shouts and tears the men came 
to his ranks, and begged to fight with him. The troops 
that were sent out to stop his way, were at last in sight. 
Na-po-le-on bid his men to halt, and he rode on to meet 



132 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

them. He stood there a mark for each gun. The chief 
told his men to fire, and the men raised their guns. 

Na-po-le-on walked a few steps to meet themi, and 
then stopped, laid bare his breast, and said, '" Men, if 
there is one who wants to kill his Em-per-or, let him 
do it. Here I am." 

For a space, all was still as the grave. Then the guns 
fell, and tears rushed to the mens' eyes. One voice 
cheered for Na-po-le-on. At that word all rushed to 
his side with shouts of joy. They showed the Em- 
per-or that there was no lead in their guns. On all his 
march, throngs came to him, and his foes fled. Men 
and their wives, girls and boys, marched with the troops, 
and sang songs of joy. The whole of Par-is, like the 
waves of the sea, rolled out on the streets, and quays, 
and squares. The sol-diers broke their ranks, and 
flocked to his side. King Lou-is fled, and called on 
the Al-lies to help him. The crowd cheered and yelled 
with joy. At last they seized Na-po-le-on, and bore 
him in their arms in to his old home. Thus, in three 
weeks, he had made his way through France, and had 
not once drawn his sword. He strove to show that he 
bore no orrudo-e to those who had left him In his hour 
of need. The Al-lies once more joined to crush out 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



133 



this man whom they feared so much. Once more the 
Em-per-or had to call on the French to fall in rank, and 
face a host of foes. Then the storm of war burst on 
France. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



WA-TER-LOO. 



Wel-ling-ton and Blu-cher had a large force at - rus- 
sels. Na-po-le-on had raised all the men he could to 
meet them. Rus-sia's troops were on the march to help 
the Al-lies. From the foot of the Alps came the host 
of Aus-tri-a, and from Swit-zer-land marched the troops, 
that the Al-lies had forced to join them. Eng-land, 
the queen of the sea, put forth all her strength. 

Na-po-le-on was in need of a brave heart, and a cool 
head for this hour. Some of his best friends were gone. 
Some of the men who had helped him win his great fights 
were dead. Jo-se-phine was dead. Ma-ri-a Lou-ise and 
his loved son were in the hands of the Al-lies. The 
plan that seemed best to him, was to take the Al-lies in 
parts. He thought of a good place to plant his troops. 



134 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

where he hoped he could cut Wel-hng-ton off from 
Blu-cher. 

The whole night of the nth of June, 1815, the Em- 
per-or did not sleep. He spent it with his friends, whom 
he left in charge at Par-is. When he took leave of them, 
he said, " I go this night. Do your part, and we will try 
to do ours." 

At three o'clock, just at the dawn of day, the Em- 
per-or went down the stairs, and left his home for the 
last time. He stopped at the foot of the stairs, and cast 
a sad glance at the scenes he was to see no more. He 
drove all that day, and the next night, to the spot 
where his troops were in camp. He was met with 
shouts from all. With a few words of cheer, he stirred 
all their hearts. They rushed to him, raised their caps 
on their swords, and rent the air with shouts. In an 
hour all were on the march. But one of his head men, 
Gen-er-al Bour-mont, was so base as to leave him, and 
take to the Al-lies the news of his whole line of march. 
When Na-po-le-on heard this, he did not show how 
much he felt it. He was cool and calm, and changed 
in some parts his plan, so that his foes should not know 
his moves. Ney was told to go with his troops, to a 
spot where two roads met, on the way to Brus-sels. It 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 135 

was named Quatre Bras, which means " four arms." 
When the Em-per-or heard that Ney had done this, he 
meant to leave there a small force to beat back the 
Prus-sians, while, with the rest of his men, he would 
cut up Wel-ling-ton's force at Brus-sels. Then he would 
turn back, and make short work of Blu-cher. 

But Blu-cher had heard all that Na-po-le-on meant to 
do, from Bour-mont, and met him with a large force. 
All day long the fight went on, but at night the French 
held the field. If Gen-er-al Ney had joined them then, 
Wa-ter-loo would not have been fought. 

But the night when Ney was to go to his post was a 
dark one, with floods of rain, and roads deep in mire. 
The men were worn out with two days' march, so Ney 
thought that there would be no harm in a rest till day 
dawned. He sent word to the Em-per-or that he had 
" Quatre Bras," for he was so sure he would get it. 
The men lay down on the wet sods, and slept. They 
did not think that those few hours of sleep would cast 
down the throne of Na-po-le-on. 

While these men slept' on the drenched ground, Wel- 
ling-ton was at a grand ball at Brus-sels. In the midst 
of the dance, some one came to him, and said in a low 
voice, " Na-po-le-on is but ten miles ofl^!" 



136 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



The news spread like wild fire. The dance stopped, 
there was a rush from the place, and Wel-ling-ton called 

his men "to arms," Drums 
beat, and in less than an 
hour, a great host rode 
through the dark and 
storm swept streets of 
Brus-sels. The night was 
black as ink. For three 
days the roads had been 
drenched with rain. The 
roads were deep in mire. 
Wel-ling-ton made for the 

"to arms," "to arms!" , 1 ' 1 'VT LIU „ 

spot, which JN ey had been 
told to hold, and throw up his field works. When day 
dawned, Ney found that the foe held Ouatre Bras, and 
that he had small chance to win it from them. Na-po- 
le-on, who thought that Ney had this post, as he had 
sent him word, now had need of him to help cut off 
Blu-cher. He sent word to him to leave a small force 
at the post, and come to his aid. "The fate of France,' 
said the Em-per-or, ''is ijt yoitr handsr If Ney had not 
failed in this hour, Blu-cher's force would have been cut 
to bits. The next day Na-po-le-on would have met 




LIFE OF N A P L E N. 137 



Wel-ling-ton, and there is small doubt that he would 
have won the day. 

But Ney could give no help. He had to fight all 
day, for Wel-ling-ton's men kept on, and held Ouatre 
Bras. When he saw how the foe had massed his troops 
in the strong place he had hoped to hold, he was wild 
with grief 

" You see these balls," he said to a friend, when he 
saw how his ranks were torn by the shot from the Eng- 
lish, " would to God they had passed through my heart." 
He rode here and there in mad haste. "One more 
charge," he would cry. " Dash at the heart of the Eng- 
lish troops and break them, cost what it may. I am 
with you." 

They plunged in the dense masses of the foe in vain. 
Then came a storm of balls, shells and grape shot, that 
swept down horse and man. 

Na-po-le-on knew that Ney meant no wrong, though 
his rest that night, when he should have marched, had 
lost him the day. He sent him a kind word, and took 
steps to do the best he could. 

Night fell, and still the storm raged. Day came, with 
clouds and rain. The French troops were so worn down 
by all they had gone through, that they could not keep 



138 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

the Prus-sians in sight. Wel-hng-ton made a halt on 
the field of Wa-ter-loo, nine miles from Brus-sels. Here 
he picked out his ground, and posted his men. Blu-cher 
was a few miles off with his men. 

All night long the rain fell. The Em-per-or took 
no rest or food. His clothes were soaked with rain, 
but he did not seek warmth where his drenched troops 
were, near the fires. 

Wel-ling-ton had his men posted on a piece of high 
ground, a mile and a half in length. A dense wood 
was in his rear, where the ground sloped off This 
wood and slope hid from view, all but those who stood 
on the brow of the hill. 

Na-po-le-on placed his men on a slope that matched 
this, and so the night wore on. The dawn came. The 
sun did not try to shine at first, but at eight, the light 
broke through the thick clouds. The vast field of Wa- 
ter-loo, plowed and sown with grain, then soaked by 
the rains of the past week, and cut up by the tramp of 
all the troops, was like a great ditch. The horses sank 
to their knees in the wet soil. The wheels of the guns 
rolled deep in the mire, and would scarce turn. The 
French had to toil on, up and down the. slope, in the 
face of a fire from the whole lines of the Eng-lish. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



139 



Na-po-le-on sent for his chief men, and told them how 
he wished them to act. "The foe has a fourth more 
menth an we have," he said, " but I think that we will 
win." Mar-shal Ney came just then, and said, " The 
Eng-lish are in flight. I have seen their troops move 
to the woods." 

Na-po-le-on said, *' You have seen wrong. It is too 
late for Wel-ling-ton to take such a step. He has 
thrown the dice, they are now for us." 

The Em-per-or rode through the lines. All eyes 
were turned on him. Each said in his heart, " God 
bless him." At such a time they shared the same soul, 
and the same cause. Cheers burst from the lips of that 
great host. 

Then came the fight. On each side all was done 
that man could do to win. Hour by hour the French 
troops, with the cry of " Live the Em-per-or," rushed 
up to the mouths of the Eng-lish guns, and were cut 
down like grass by a scythe. For hours the whole field 
was swept by a storm of balls, shells and shot. In the 
mire, stained with blood, lay heaps of the slain, and 
those who were soon to die. The flash of the guns, 
the crash of the fire, the groans and shrieks of the 
wounded, the dense clouds of smoke that wrapped the 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



plain in the gloom of night, the wild flight of some, 
the cry of those who chased them, all made up a scene 
of woe on that dread day of blood. At one time, Wel- 
ling-ton's force gave way, and Na-po-le-on felt sure that 
the day was won. But all at once he saw a mass move 
out of the woods, and make for this plain. He thought 
the troops were French at first, but soon found it was 
Blu-cher and his men. 

Na-po-le-on's troops plunged in the ranks of these 
new foes, and drove them back to the woods. He kept 
his eye fixed on a point, from which he hoped help would 
come. The Em-per-or had sent word to Mar-shal Grou- 
chy to come and help him, but he did not get it. Some 
say he was false to the cause, for he heard the noise of 
the fight, and his men wished and begged him to go, 
but he would not. They said to him, " There is a 
fight, there can be no doubt of it. We ought to march 
to the place. If we turn to the left, we shall be on the 
field in two hours " 

But Grou-chy would not move. The Em-per-or was 
now to make a charge with his Old Guard, which had 
not been known to fail, and they thought the day was 
won. Loud shouts of " Live the Em-per-or " rang 
through the lines, and was heard by the foe, in spite 



LIFE OF X A P a L E O X. 



of the roar of the fight. Some of the troops of Wel- 
hng-ton took fright, as they heard it, and rushed from 
the field. 

Wel-Hng-ton stood on a hill, and watched for Blu- 
cher. He knew he could not hold out lonQ^. His 
lines seemed to melt from his sight. He looked at his 
watch, and then fixed his gaze on the far off hills, as he 
sighed, " Would to God Blu-cher or night would come." 

Just then, when Na-po-le-on gave the word for a grand 
charge from his whole force, two long, dark lines of 
men were seen on the hills. They rushed down on the 
flank of Na-po-le-on's worn out troops. This new foe 
was as o-reat as his whole force. Bluc-her was in the 
midst with his men. This was like a bolt of fate, and 
the doom of France seemed sure. 

But the Old Guard stood firm. For eight hours they 
fought on. Not a drum beat the charge, not a cheer 
went up as they pierced the Brit-ish lines. Ney had 
five horses shot, and then he fought on foot, sword in 
hand, at the head of his men. Na-po-le-on gazed on 
this brave band, till they were lost from his sight in a 
cloud of smoke. 

Then the Prus-sians rushed on the field. A gust of 
wind swept off the smoke, and Na-po-le-on looked for 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 




S^ ^\ iMf 



THE CHARGE OF MU-RAT'S CAV-AL-RY AT WA-TER-LOO. 

his Guard. It was gone! Struck down, as it were, to 
a man, they lay bathed in their blood. Then Na-po- 
le-on grew as pale as death. The troops saw the Guard 
was gone, and fear struck each heart. Wel-ling-ton and 
Blu-cher met, and shook hands with joy, on the field of 
blood. Na-po-le-on formed a small square, and urged 
it on through the throngs of the foe. He wished to 
die with his Old Guard, but his friends seized the reins 
of his horse, and held him back. They said to him, 
" Sire, death shuns you, they will but take you, and hold 
you." Na-po-le-on shook his head, and pressed on, but 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON 



143 



he seemed to think, all at once, that he had no right to 
throw down his life In such a way. With tears in his 
eyes, and grief in his heart, he looked his last at the 
brave men, who kept their faith and love for him to 
their last breath. Then he turned, put spurs to his 
horse, and rode from the field. 

The square he had formed, the last bit of the Old 
Guard, kept up a brave fight. A storm of balls fell on 
it, but it did not break. As death thinned its ranks, it 
closed up, and fought on. Gen-er-al Cam-bronne, who 
led it, bled from six wounds. A few score of men clung- 
round him. The Eng-lish sent a flag of truce, but Gen- 
er-al Cam-bronne, gave back the brave words that fame 
has kept since that day, 

" The Old Gtiard dies, it does not yield!' 

A few more rounds of shot, and all were mowed 
down. Thus fought and fell, on the field of Wa-ter-loo, 
the Old Guard of Na-po-le-on. It had been formed by 
him, he had breathed in it his own soul, and it did not 
choose to live, when his cause, and that of France, were 
lost. 

Blu-cher, with his band, kept up the work of death 
all night. Na-po-le-on, with the men left to him, made 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



his way to Par-is. At four, 
he reached Quatre Bras. 
He stopped there for an 
hour. It was a bright 
night, the moon shone, and 
there was not a cloud in 
the sky. The Em-per-or 
urged on his horse all 
night. He could hear the 
shots of the Prus-sians in 
his rear all the time. In 
the dawn he stopped and 
rested for a while. His men strayed in from the flight, 
all worn out, and stained with blood and dirt. Tears 
came to Na-po-le-on's eyes as he saw them. He sent 
word to Par-is of the sad end of the long fight. " Here," 
he said to his chief, " I wish you to read this. If I have 
left out aught, you must tell me. I will not hide the 
truth. France must know the whole truth. I might 
throw part of the blame on Mar-shal Ney, but that 
can not be helped now, and no more must be said. 




PUR-SUED BY PRUS-SIAN CAV-AL-RY. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 145 



CHAPTER XV. 

ST.HE-LE-NA. 

It was late in the night when Na-po-le-on reached 
Par-is. Pie did not go to his grand home, the place 
where kings had dwelt, but to one that was not so large, 
which he had in the E-ly-see. A few friends stood 
there, with lit torches, to greet him. He was so weak, 
he could scarce walk. His cheek was pale, his head 
drooped, and his limbs failed him. He dropped on a 
couch, and pressed his hand on his heart. He mourned 
for his lost troops, and for his Old Guard, which had 
been the pride of his life. " My pain is here," he said, 
" my men fought well, but my brave Guard has been 
cut to pieces, and I have not died with them But I 
feel that I have had my death wound." 

He tried to sleep, but could not. He soon rose, and 
called for his friend, Cu-lain-court. He talked to him 
of the blow to P'rance. " It is my death blow," he said. 
"The foe had four times our force. Then Bour-mont's 
base deed forced me to change my plans. To go to the 
foe on the eve of a fight ! The blood of the French slain 
is on his head, the curse of his land will fall on him." 



146 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

Par-is was in a state of great fright. They knew that 
a vast host, the joined troops, of the Al-hes, was on its 
way, and might be in the midst of them in a few hours. 
" France must pass through seas of blood," said some, 
" to keep out these hordes, but the Al-hes make war on 
Na-po-le-on. If we give him up, we will save our lives, 
and save France. Then we can choose an Em-per-or, 
or have a free state as we like. 

La-fay-ette, a great man, was no friend of kings, and 
there were those who held the same views as he did. 
Then, there were the Bour-bons, who hoped, if Na-po- 
le-on fell, to have a chance to bring back the old line 
of kings. 

The friends of Na-po-le-on lost heart, and bowed to 
the storm, but the great mass of the folk was with him. 
They would crowd round the E-ly-see, and fill the air 
with shouts of " Live the Em-per-or." The trees, the 
walls, the roofs, were full of those who came to catch a 
glimpse of him. ' They would have fought for him, but 
he saw he could not hope for the rest He would not 
have scenes of blood to gain his own ends. If he could 
not save France, then all was lost. 

He could have thrown down those who were not for 
him, if he had armed the poor folk of Par-is, but he 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 147 

said, " No, not one life shall be lost for me. 1 have not 
come back from El-ba to drench Par-is in blood." 

Few slept in Par-is the night of the 21st of June, 
181 5. Men surged through the streets, and cried for 
arms, to fight for their Em-per-or and France. The Al- 
lies were more near by a day's march. Had the word 
been said, all might have been saved. There is small 
doubt all would have moved, as one man, to keep out 
the foe. 

But the De-pu-ties met, and passed a vote to ask Na- 
po-le-on to give up the throne of France. They told him 
the war was made on him, that the Al-lies would be 
friends to France. He could save her. 

He took a pen and wrote, " Men of France, I made 
this war in the trust that all would join with me. But 
things seem changed. I am told the Al-lies do not hate 
France, but me. Then I give up my own wishes for the 
sake of France, that no more blood may be shed. I 
give up my place to my son. Let him be known as 
Na-po-le-on H., Em-per-or of the French." 

When this act was read, more than one shed tears. 
They sent their great men to bear their thanks to Na- 
po-le-on, who had saved their land. 

It was night. The Em-per-or was in his room, which 



148 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

was lit by a few wax lights. He met the men with a 
grave face, and heard what they had to say. 

" I thank you," he said, " for your kind words. I 
hope this may be for the good oi France, but I do not 
think it will be. It leaves the State with no head. The 
time spent to crush me, might have been used to put 
the foe to flight. If you want peace, put all things in 
shape for war. Do not be the dupe of your hopes. If 
I see France in peace, I shall be glad. I leave my. son 
to France." 

The dawn came. The Al-lies were still on the march. 
No one seemed to know what step to take. The Bour- 
bons thought their chance had come. Na-po-le-on said, 
"The De-pu-ties will soon bring back the Bour-bons by 
their acts. These men will soon shed tears of blood." 

Hor-tense was at Mal-mai-son, and the Em-per-or 
went there. He strayed, with sad thoughts, through the 
rooms and the paths where he had once walked with 
Jo-se-phine. He did not know where he should go to 
spend the rest of his life, but thought of the U-ni-ted 
States. He said, " Now they give me up to save 
France, the time may come when they will give up 
France to save their own lives." 

To Hor-tense, he said, " I will not go to Aus-tri-a. 



LIFE OF XAPOLEO N. 149 

She has seized my wife and my son. Nor will I go 
to Rus-sia, but I will trust Eng-iand. I mean the folk 
of Eng-land. 

Some of his friends begged him not to trust Eng- 
land, and the A-mer-i-cans in Par-is sent him word, that 
he would find warm friends in A-mer-i-ca. A guard 
was sent to lead him to the ship. At the last hour, 
what was left of his troops sent word, that if he would 
take the lead, they could still beat back the foe. 

He thought for a time, and then said, " Give them 
thanks for me, but what could I do if all France were 
not with me?" 

The Al-lies were now but two days march from 
Par-is. Na-po-le-on could hear the sound of their guns. 
He wished them to try and beat back the foe, and sent 
word he would, at least, help make them give good 
terms of peace. But the De-pu-ties would not hear of 
this, so he said, " Let me go then at once. I am tired 
of Par-is. I am tired of France. I am tired of my 
own self." 

The day of the 29th of June dawned. It was bright 
and clear. The parks, the walks at Mal-mai-son, were 
bathed in light. The Em-per-or sat in his room, worn 
with care and orrief. 



I50 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

Hor-tense, with tears in her eyes, did all that her 
love prompted, for one who had been so kind to her. 

Na-po-le-on said to his friend, Cu-lain-court, " I wished 
to wait a few days, when I heard the roar of those guns. 
I do not care to reign. I want no more of that. I am 
no more an Em-per-or, but when I thought of my troops, 
with no one to lead them, my blood boiled. I wished 
for a brave death, with my dear troops. But they will 
not let me ! That would spoil their plans. France has 
been sold ! They give her up, and do not strike one 
blow to save her. Oh, my brave men, if you could 
have seen them at Wa-ter-loo, how they pressed on the 
foe, how they kept on when all was lost, and sought to 
meet death on the field." 

He could say no more. The tramp of horses was 
heard in the court yard. The hour had come. He took 
leave of his friends, and turned a last look on the scenes 
that had been so dear to him. On all his way, men 
came out and begged him to let them fight with him. 
Cries and shouts went up for him when he was seen, 
till he reached the sea, where he was to take ship for 
the new world. 

But there was a plot not to let the Em-per-or go. 
The Eng-lish fleet was there, and sent him word that 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON 




if he would go to Eng-land, 
he might pass out, but he 
could go no where else. He 
talked with his friends, and 
they, for the most part, 
thought he might trust Eng- 
land. He went on board 
the Eng-lish ship of his own 
free will. But spite of this, 
he was held, when he landed 
on Eng-land's coast, and told 
that they would not let him 
go free. They fixed on St. 
He-le-na, a lone isle in the sea, where he was to live, 
cut off from the world, and all dear to him. They 
still feared him so much, that they made up their minds 
that he should not have more chances to fight them. 
It was a great blow to Na-po-le-on when he first heard 
of his doom, and knew that he was not a free man. 
But he grew calm. He felt that the way he had been 
trapped by the Eng-lish was a base act, and he said 
so, but he showed no fear. 

Four of his friends said they would go with him to St. 
He-le-na and share his lot. As they set sail, they saw 



GO-IN& ON BOARD THE BRIT-ISH MAN OF WAR. 



LIFE OF NAP OL FOX. 



the coast of France far off, and a cry, " France ! France !" 
burst from them. The Em-per-or took off his hat, and 
cried, "Land of the Brave, good bye; good bye." At 

the end of ten days, some one cried, 
" Land ! Land!" They saw a bleak 
and storm -drenched rock, black 
peaks and bare hills, where on 
each shelf in the rocks euns were 
planted. St. He-le-na is but ten 
miles long and six broad, and the 
hot sun beats down on it with 
fierce rays. 

As Na-po-le-on walked up the 
poor street to the room where a 
camp bed had been placed for 
him, he was calm and sad. 

On the bare rock, three miles 
from the small town, was a poor 
hut in the midst of crags and peaks of rocks. A few 
gnarled gum trees grew there, but that was all. This 
hut was to be the home of Na-po-le-on. It had been 
put in shape and a few things placed in it. This was 
his goal and his tomb. There was an Eng-lish guard 
to watch him all the time, and at last he would not 




FAKE-WELL TO FRANCE. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 153 

ride out. His friend, Las Cas-as, wrote for him hours 
each day, the tale of his hfe and wars. In the course of 
time a new house was built — a long, low house of wood 
— to which the Em-per-or moved from the poor hut. 
The guard of the Eng-lish were at all times on hand, 
and this was gall to the proud heart of Na-po-le-on. He 
stayed more and more in his own rooms, and his health 
grew poor. Sir Hud-son Low, who was in charge of 
the place, hated Na-po-le-on, and showed his hate in all 
ways. Years passed of this sad, lone life, and the Em- 
per-or pined and grew more ill. 

One by one, his dear friends were sent from him. 
His health grew worse, and he kept his room. Days 
and weeks of pain passed on, and one day his friends 
found him on his bed. He could scarce be roused 
Chills shook his frame, and each day he grew more 
weak. The sixth year of his sad life eame, and he felt 
that now his time was short. Storm and rain swept the 
bleak rocks. Na-po-le-on could not sleep. Pain seized 
him and he had no strength left. He longed but for 
rest. He said: "Oh! what a thing rest is. I would 
not give my bed for all the thrones of the world." He 
grew so weak that when he tried to walk his limbs bent 
with his weight. He spoke of his son whom he could 



'54 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



not hope to see, and of Ma-ri-a Lou-is-a. He wrote his 
will, and said that he died in the faith of Christ. He 
talked much to his friends, of what they should say to 
his son. when they saw him. He wrote : " It is my wish 
that I should rest on the banks of the Seine, in the 
midst of those I have loved so well." He felt that his 

end drew near. The blow 
was struck and death was 
at hand. He told his priest 
that he wished him to say 
Mass for him each day. 
He grew more ill, and his 
mind roamed to old scenes. 
Once more he was on the 
field of war with his troops. 
He would shout to them : 
" Press the charge — they 
are ours !" Once he sprang from the bed, and fell on 
the floor. 

When his mind came back, he looked at his friends 
and said: "I am ill; the hour of my death is here." 
He asked them to let him breathe the fresh air. He 
was racked with pain. All in the house came to look 
on his face for the last time. They seized his hands and 




DEATH OF NA-PO-LE-ON. 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



155 



kissed them with tears. At six in the day his eyes 
were fixed, but a smile of peace was on his face as he 
breathed his last. "France — Jo-se-phine," were his last 
words. 

Sir Hud-son Low would not let the corpse be borne 
to the Isle of Cor-si-ca, where the great man had been 
born, that it might be laid at rest with his friends. He 

said the grave must be 
made at St. He-le-na. All 
the folks of the isle, in a 
long train, walked to the 
place that had been picked 
out for the grave. There 
was a stone marked with 
Na-po-le-on's name, the date 
of his birth and death, 
placed on the spot. That 
was all! 




GRAVE OF NA-PO-LE-ON AT ST. HE-LE-NA. 



But there came a day, nine years from that time, 
when France said that her great dead must be brought 
back to her. Lou-is Phil-ippe had to give heed to that 
call. The dead Na-po-le-on was sent for with great 
pomp. The Eng-lish ships-of-war met the French near 
St. He-le-na, and those, charged with the task, took 



156 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

their way to that lone grave. At last the earth was 
dug from the vault, and the slab raised. Most of those 
who looked on shed tears. For when the lids were 
raised from the cases of wood, and tin, and lead, they 
saw the dead face, and it was not much changed. The 
Em-per-or looked as if he but slept. 

The corpse was placed in the strong box that had 
been sent for it from Par-is. A rich pall, worked with 
bees, in gold, and the crown of the Em-per-ors of 
France was laid on the bier. A storm broke out as 
they bore the corpse to the rock bound coast. Yet the 
folks of St. He-le-na marched on through the rain, from 
the tomb to the ships. They had hung crape on their 
stores and homes, and put their flags at half-mast. The 
crowd bowed their heads as the Eng-lish gave up all 
that was left of the great Na-po-le-on, and the Flag he 
had loved, waved o'er him once more. 

The folk from all parts of France flocked to Rou-en 
to see the ships sail by. The banks of the stream were 
hung with wreaths, and seats were raised, tier on tier, 
and hunof with rich silks, where some could sit and see 

o 

the sight. A great arch spanned the stream. It was 
draped with silk, on which bees were worked in gold 
thread. 




i/^ 



LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 



157 



The ships stood still for a while at the arch, and a great 
peal went out from the guns. Men wept for joy that 
the Em-per-or was once more in his own dear land. 
They cast wreaths on his bier, and the old cry of " Live 
the Em-per-or," went up in faint tones like a wail. The 
church bells tolled, and the bands played a dirge. 

The banks of the Seine, as they sailed on, were 
lined with crowds to see the ships, and show their joy 
that the dead had come to his own once more. 

At one place, the form of Jo-se-phine, carved in 
stone, stood on the shore as if to greet the Em-per-or. 
She was the one thought of in that hour, the true wife 
of Na-po-le-on. No one thought of Ma-ri-a Lou-is-a, 
who had left him in his hour of need. 

All Par-is was roused, as the great dead was borne 
to his grand tomb. Bells tolled, and the air was full of 
dirges. Down the Seine sailed grand barges decked 
with silk and gold. Wax lights burned night and day 
on the bier. At the head of it, lay the Em-per-or's 
crown veiled in crape. A grand car had been built to 
bear the corpse to the Church of the In-val-ides, where 
it was to be laid. This car was drawn by coal black 
steeds draped with cloth of gold down to their feet. 
Plumes of white decked! their heads and manes. The 



158 LIFE OF NAPOLEON. 

few men who were left from Na-po-le-on's Old Guard, 
bore the bier through the aisle of the Church. All rose 
and bowed their heads to the great dead. The King 
and Queen of France were there. 

"To you," said the Prince to Lou-is Phil-ippe, ** I give 
the dead Em-per-or, Na-po-le-on." 

'T take the gift, in the name of France," said the 
King. 

Then he took from the hand of Mar-shal Soult, Na- 
po-le-on's sword, and gave it to one of his chief men. 
" I charge you," said he, "to lay this sword on the Em- 
per-or's bier." 

The sad notes of the dirge filled the grand aisles, and 
swelled up to the great dome. So Na-po-le-on was 
brought back at last, to the land he loved so well, and 
rests with the friends who were so dear to him. 



VlI^ 



L L Kj, Jt' 



